WALES

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of invoices from suppliers her Department paid within 10 days of receipt in January and February 2011.

David Jones: In January and February 2011 100% of invoices paid by the Wales Office were paid within 10 days.

Departmental Expenditure

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what expenditure her Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year.

David Jones: In the last three years the Wales Office has only made one payment to external auditors. In the financial year 2009-10 a payment of £16,500 was made for services provided by the National Audit Office.

Departmental Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for her Department that (a) was on the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to avoid and (b) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 to date.

David Jones: The Wales Office has no in-house catering facilities and does not source food.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in her Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

David Jones: None.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which hon. Members of each political party were invited to the Secretary of State's St David's Day reception at Gwydyr house on 1 March 2011.

Cheryl Gillan: The Wales Office’s traditional St David’s Day reception has long been used to celebrate our national day and to bring together representatives of Welsh society to build relationships that will potentially bring great benefits to Wales. Representatives of key employers and the big society were invited, along with Members of Parliament and peers of all the main political parties. The estimated cost to the public purse from the event is £780, excluding VAT.
	The following hon. Members were invited:
	Glyn Davies MP
	Brooks Newmark MP
	Guto Bebb MP
	Alun Cairns MP
	Stephen Crabb MP
	David Davies MP
	Jonathan Evans MP
	Simon Hart MP
	Roger Williams MP
	Mark Williams MP
	Jenny Willott MP
	Peter Hain MP
	Owen Smith MP
	Elfyn Llwyd MP
	Mark Prisk MP
	Vince Cable MP

Electoral Reform Services Ltd

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the monetary value was of contracts her Department placed with Electoral Reform Services Ltd in each year since 2005.

David Jones: The Wales Office has not placed any contracts with Electoral Reform Services.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Public Expenditure

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on levels of funding for agricultural research and development during the comprehensive spending review period.

James Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has held no recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer specifically on levels of funding for agricultural research and development during the comprehensive spending review period. However, DEFRA officials continue to work closely with HM Treasury and other Government Departments on Government support for research and development in this and other sectors.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of the compulsory set aside scheme; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Compulsory set-aside (the obligation for farmers to take a percentage of agricultural land out of production) was abolished in 2008. The Campaign for the Farmed Environment was launched in 2009 as an alternative to regulation, allowing farmers to voluntarily implement changes in farming practice that will recapture the environmental benefits formerly provided by set-aside land. It is due to run until July 2012.
	The Campaign is led by the farming industry and is its chance to demonstrate that it can deliver better environmental outcomes for farmland birds, other farm wildlife, soil and water at a local level without the need for additional regulation. I want the Campaign to be a success and do not believe that Government should need to regulate and impose more red tape; if the farming community can achieve the same results through its own actions. But if the farming community cannot step up and achieve these results voluntarily, the. Government will have to consider a compulsory approach to deliver the same level of environmental benefits.

Fishing Catches: EU Action

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take on fish discards and by-catch following the EU high level meeting of 1 March 2011 on fisheries; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 7 March 2011
	I have made clear that tackling discards must be a priority for common fisheries policy (CFP) reform, and I am delighted that at the high level meeting on discards the EU Commission, and other members states, were able to agree on this too. At the event, the UK, Germany, France and Denmark also took the step of signing a declaration calling for serious reform of the CFP, making the reduction of discards a high priority, while securing improved management of fish stocks and the prosperity of our fishing industry.
	The UK is committed to tackling discards, and will use the momentum created by the event and the declaration to continue to influence and shape reform—in doing so we will use the crucial evidence gathered from the UK’s discard reduction work to make sure that the right solutions are taken forward.
	The UK is clear, however, that it will not just wait for the reform of common fisheries policy; discard reductions must be delivered now. We have already made excellent progress with initiatives such as project 50%, which saw discards in the south west sole fishery reduced by 52%. In 2011, we are expanding our catch quota scheme to more vessels and species, as well as working to encourage consumption of underutilized species that are presently discarded.

Government Departments: Sustainable Development

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the ministerial governance arrangements to oversee the Government’s performance on sustainable development.

James Paice: On 28 February 2011, Government published their vision for mainstreaming sustainable development which consists of providing ministerial leadership and oversight, leading by example, embedding sustainable development into policy, and transparent and independent scrutiny. It can be viewed online at:
	http://sd.defra.gov.uk/documents/mainstreaming-sustainable-development.pdf
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will sit on the key domestic policy Cabinet committees, including the Economic Affairs Committee, to promote the Government’s commitment to sustainability across policy making.
	We will measure and report our progress through a new set of indicators on sustainable development, building on past experience of sustainable development and wellbeing measures and linking with developing national and international initiatives, including plans announced in November 2010 to measure the nation’s wellbeing.
	The Environmental Audit Committee will play a role in holding the Government to account with a renewed commitment to scrutinise the appraisal of the Government’s policies and our new overall approach.
	A Ministerial Steering Group will oversee delivery of the new Commitments for greening Government’s Operations and Procurement. All Departments will need to submit plans for delivering these commitments to the Cabinet Office, which will co-ordinate performance management of pan-government delivery and publish regular updates on progress to ensure we can be held to account by the public.

Noise: Nuisance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on noise nuisance issues.

Richard Benyon: A number of representations have been received recently regarding noise nuisance. Specifically, in December and January DEFRA received 19 and 12 letters respectively from members of the public and external organisations on noise nuisance with subject matters ranging from noise from gas guns to low frequency ‘hum’. A small number of parliamentary questions on this issue have also been received.

Rural Payments Agency: Operating Costs

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to which uses the Rural Payments Agency has put the funding allocated to it by her Department to assist with running costs in 2010-11.

James Paice: holding answer 8 March 2011
	The Rural Payments Agency is a major delivery body for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), providing a range of services in support of DEFRA’s objectives of encouraging a thriving farming and food sector and strong rural communities. The Agency manages a wide range of common agricultural policy (CAP) schemes including the single payment scheme, internal market schemes covering dairy products, crops, fruits and vegetables, external trade measures covering export refunds, import and export licenses and milk quotas. The agency also carries out a wide range of inspections on farms and at abattoirs, factories, ports, airports and markets to ensure CAP scheme rules are met and that claims for payment are valid. The agency is also responsible for monitoring cattle movements throughout the UK.

Rural Payments Agency: Operating Costs

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of her Department’s EU dairy fund has been paid out (a) by the Rural Payments Agency and (b) through each of the devolved Administrations to date.

James Paice: holding answer 2 March 2011
	The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) paid out £26,563,99.65 to 15,689 eligible dairy producers across the United Kingdom from the EU dairy fund. All eligible producers have been paid.
	In agreement with the devolved Administrations, RPA made all the payments. £2,571,941.28 was paid to producers in Scotland, £2,980,000.97 to producers in Wales and £3,686,613.89 to producers in Northern Ireland.

Towards a Green Economy

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Government’s policy on the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme report, Towards a Green Economy.

James Paice: DEFRA Ministers have had no discussions to date with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the recommendations issued last week.

DEFENCE

Air Force: Military Bases

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to visit the RAF base at (a) Lossiemouth, (b) Kinloss and (c) Leuchars.

Liam Fox: I intend to visit the region shortly but no specific date or programme has yet been agreed.

Air Force: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Royal Air Force personnel not deployed on operations, recently returned from operations and preparing to deploy on operations are in the pool of personnel considered for the redundancies announced on 1 March 2011;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of Royal Air Force personnel who will volunteer for redundancy as part of the programme of reductions announced on 1 March 2011.

Nick Harvey: The information requested is not available at this time.
	Some 4,350 service personnel will be eligible for redundancy in tranche one of the RAF redundancy programme. Personnel within this group who are engaged in combat operations for which they are in receipt of operational allowance, within six months of deploying on those operations, or recovering from operations on the day the redundancy notices are issued, will not be considered for redundancy unless they have applied for voluntary redundancy. The sift to remove the individuals who fall into these categories will not be completed until mid-August.
	No estimate has been made of the number of RAF personnel who will volunteer for redundancy as part of the RAF redundancy programme as this will depend on the personal choices made by the individuals concerned.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effect on military operations in Afghanistan of the redundancies from the armed forces announced on 1 March 2011.

Nick Harvey: The reduction in the size of the armed forces was first announced following the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the Prime Minister has made it clear that there is no cut whatsoever in the support for our forces in Afghanistan.
	Furthermore, when announcing the need for redundancies, the Secretary of State for Defence made it clear that no one who is preparing to deploy, deployed and in receipt of operational allowance or who has recently returned from an operational deployment will be made redundant unless they have volunteered,
	Afghanistan remains our top foreign policy priority and the Ministry of Defence's main effort and we will continue to ensure that the campaign is properly resourced.

Blue Force

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) financial and (b) other assistance was provided by his Department to (i) Blue Force Property and (ii) Blue Force Services in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: We have not provided any financial assistance to any Blue Force organisation. Office accommodation at Colchester and access to a military telephone network were provided in the past and charges levied at the appropriate rates.

Blue Force

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department is owed by (a) Blue Force Property and (b) Blue Force Services.

Andrew Robathan: Nothing. All monies for rental of office accommodation have been paid.

Chinook Helicopters

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Boeing full hazard analysis of the flying controls and associated systems that was carried out with reference to paragraph 9 of the Ministry of Defence Military Aircraft Accident Summary 2/89-Aircraft Accident to Royal Air Force Chinook HC1 ZA721.

Nick Harvey: I will write to the hon. Member.
	 Time is required to retrieve information on the 1987 accident from archive.
	Substantive answer from Nick Harvey to James Gray:
	I undertook to write to you in response to the answer I gave to your written parliamentary question on 9 February 2011 (Official Report, column 252W) regarding the Boeing full hazard analysis.
	We are still waiting for Boeing to provide the information you requested. You may however wish to be aware that some of the information may be covered by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which may limit its release. This will not be fully clear until the information is received and assessed.

Critical Capabilities Pool

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) purpose and (b) remit of the Critical Capabilities Pool is.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
	The purpose of the Critical Capabilities Pool is to fund some of the key programmes and capabilities required to reduce proliferation-related risks to national security and to improve co-ordination of those resources across the Government's counter-proliferation community. The Critical Capabilities Pool includes several programmatic elements and also contains resources for security-related science and technology work in the radiological and nuclear, and chemical and biological fields.

Critical Capabilities Pool

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of the Critical Capabilities Pool introduced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and which departments have contributed to it.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
	Work to finalise the exact level of resources included within the Critical Capabilities Pool is still ongoing. I will write to inform you of the final figure once it is available. The following Departments are contributing funding: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Energy and Climate Change, HM Treasury, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Department.

European Fighter Aircraft

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 515W, on defence: procurement, when he plans to place in the Library a copy of the project history maintained in respect of the Typhoon project.

Peter Luff: It is my intention to place a copy of the Typhoon project history in the Library of the House before the Easter recess.

European Fighter Aircraft

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the information his Department holds on the increase in costs (a) of the Eurofighter typhoon project and (b) for each such aircraft delivered since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: Information about the increase in cost of Typhoon is published within the Major Projects Report 2010, HC 489-11 dated 15 October 2010. Typhoon has been contracted for in three tranches. Increase in cost is not recorded on a per aircraft basis.

Ex-servicemen: Social Security Benefits

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ensure the take-up of benefits by former service personnel.

Andrew Robathan: All former service personnel who are in need can access the Veterans Welfare Service who have visibility of the Department of Work and Pensions' database and can advise on obtaining any further benefits. Welfare managers are able to assist in the application process if potential claimants are unable to do so.

Military Aircraft

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which types of Royal Air Force aircraft are authorised to carry special nuclear materials over UK territory; and which section in his Department is responsible for granting such authority;
	(2)  which types of Royal Air Force aircraft are authorised to carry special nuclear materials over US territory by the US administration; and from which department of the US administration he received such authority.

Nick Harvey: The following aircraft can carry special nuclear materials (SNM): CI7, VC10,Tristar and C130.
	Individual aircraft do not require a specific authorisation to carry SNM, but, as with all requests for the use of air transport, aircraft are allocated according to the size and nature of the load and in response to a bid from the sponsor.
	The Transport Operation Order details the itinerary, role, fit of the aircraft, load, handling requirements and specific arrangements for that task. As part of this process, diplomatic clearances are arranged in conjunction with those nations detailed in the itinerary, or being overflown. The internal clearance process for each nation to approve the flight itinerary is a matter for them.

RAF Valley

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian staff are located at RAF Valley; and in what capacity.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 813W.

Sea Rescue

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy pilots are assigned to search and rescue duties, excluding those assigned for training purposes; and from which bases such pilots operate;
	(2)  which helicopters are deployed to carry out search and rescue tasks in the UK; and from which bases such helicopters operate.

Nick Harvey: The RAF provide search and rescue (SAR) capability from six UK bases using the Sea King Mk3/3a helicopters: RAF Valley, Wattisham airfield, Defence School of Transport (DST) Leconfield, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Boulmer and Royal Marines Base (RMB) Chivenor. The Royal Navy provide SAR cover from Gannet SAR Flight (Glasgow Prestwick International airport) and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose using the Sea King HU Mk5 helicopter. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency provides SAR capability from bases at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Portland and Lee-on-Solent, using AgustaWestland AW139 and Sikorsky S92 helicopters.
	The number of RAF and Royal Navy pilots assigned to SAR duties and the bases from which they operate are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Service Base Number of pilots 
			 RAF UK (1)71 
			 Royal Navy UK 20 
			 (1) RAF pilots are also stationed in Cyprus and on detachment to the Falkland Islands.

Submarines and Warships

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many submarines are currently available for operations;
	(2)  what the (a) name and (b) type is of each (i) destroyer and (ii) frigate in service with the Royal Navy and available for operations.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 4 March 2011
	The surface ships in service with the Royal Navy currently available for operations are as follows:
	Frigates
	Type 22:
	HMS Campbeltown
	HMS Cornwall
	HMS Cumberland
	Destroyers
	Type 23:
	HMS St Albans
	HMS Westminster
	HMS Richmond
	HMS Iron Duke
	HMS Montrose
	HMS Monmouth
	HMS Sutherland
	HMS Somerset
	HMS Portland
	Type 42:
	HMS Gloucester
	HMS Liverpool
	HMS York
	Type 45:
	HMS Daring.
	Two types of submarines make up the Royal Navy Submarine Service. There are six fleet submarines, of which four are operational. There are four ballistic missile submarines, of which three are operational. HMS Astute has joined the Royal Navy's submarine fleet, but is not yet fully operational, so is not included in these figures.
	While the units identified will be at various states of readiness, while engaging in various forms of activity such as sea trials, training, ammunitioning, storing etc., they remain in fleet time and are therefore considered operational.
	Those units not currently part of the operational schedule are undergoing deep maintenance.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Security

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to enable airports to determine their own security procedures for air crew.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 773W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what savings he expects to accrue to his Department from its internal restructuring programme over the lifetime of the programme.

Philip Hammond: The central Department and its agencies will deliver our spending review commitment to reduce our administration costs by 33% in real terms by 2014-15 which will represent a cumulative cost saving of around £270 million over the period to and including 2014-15.
	Of this, approximately £180 million is expected will be delivered from the central Department.

Driving Offences: Insurance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with the Motor Insurance Bureau on the number of uninsured drivers.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any meetings with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Motor insurance is one of my responsibilities. I have met with the MIB and have visited their headquarters in Milton Keynes.

Driving Standards Agency

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the work carried out by the Driving Standards Agency was undertaken by the offices in (a) Newcastle, (b) Nottingham and (c) Cardiff in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) cannot accurately proportion the total of work carried out between its administrative offices in Newcastle, Nottingham and Cardiff. Some of the functions at each site are different and not comparable.
	The number of staff based in each office at 1 January 2011 was:
	Newcastle—170 to 180
	Nottingham—350 to 360
	Cardiff—86 (plus one member of staff on career break)
	Figures for Newcastle and Nottingham are approximations owing to the fact that some staff are based between the two offices.

Heathrow Airtrack

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the Heathrow Airtrack; and what timetable he has set for its implementation.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 7 March 2011
	The Heathrow Airtrack project is being promoted by Heathrow Airport Ltd—a subsidiary of BAA. Accordingly, plans for the future of the project and timescales for implementation are a matter for BAA.

London and Southeastern Railway: Passengers

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rate of cancellation of passenger rail services operated by the Southeastern franchise was in each of the last five reporting periods.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 2 March 2011
	The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Southeastern cancellations 
			 Reporting period Percentage cancelled 
			 August/September 2010 0.9 
			 September/October 2010 1.6 
			 October/November 2010 0.6 
			 November/December 2010 2.3 
			 December/January 2011 2.6 
			 Note: Period 10 2010-11 (12 December 2010 to 9 January 2011) is the latest data available. Rail industry periods are four weeks in length.

Pedestrian Crossings

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the relative safety records of (a) pelican, (b) puffin, (c) toucan and (d) other forms of signal-controlled pedestrian crossings.

Norman Baker: A recent study, conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory on a limited number of sites, indicated that personal injury accident frequencies at puffin crossings could be some 17% lower than at pelican crossings. We intend to publish the results of the study later this year. No other comparative studies have been carried out in recent years.

Railways: Construction

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the annual cost to the public purse of maintenance of the High Speed Two route after completion.

Philip Hammond: Estimates of the costs of operating and maintaining both the proposed Y high speed rail network, and the proposed initial London-West Midlands HS2 line, are included in the “Economic Case for HS2” which is available on the consultation website:
	http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk

Railways: Construction

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies are involved in the (a) construction and (b) operation of High Speed Two; and with which companies he has had discussions on High Speed Two.

Philip Hammond: No companies are, at this stage, involved in the construction or operation of HS2. I have had discussions with large numbers of companies from all sectors, as well as business representative organisations, about HS2.

Roads: Safety

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has assessed the merits of setting targets for the reduction of child road deaths and serious injuries in the forthcoming road safety strategic framework.

Michael Penning: The UK already has some of the safest roads in the world, but the coalition is considering how to make them even safer for all road users. The new strategic framework for road safety will set out the Government’s vision for road safety, national measures, and how we will work with others to achieve this. We have been discussing this with stakeholders and we intend to publish in the near future.

Southeastern

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new carriages, excluding carriages for services on High Speed 1, have been brought into service on the Integrated Kent Franchise in each year since the franchise was awarded to Southeastern.

Theresa Villiers: There have been no additional carriages introduced in any year under the current Integrated Kent Franchise, other than those introduced to deliver the high speed services. However, since March 2009, some Southeastern services have been operated using First Capital Connect rolling stock, which enabled Southeastern to redeploy up to 48 vehicles to lengthen other trains.
	Prior to the start of the Integrated Kent Franchise in April 2006, more than £600 million was invested in new rolling stock in Kent (57 four-car class 375 and 36 five-car class 376 Electrostar trains).

Taxis: Road Traffic Offences

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the owners of private hire vehicles are able to transfer liability for parking control notices (PCNs) to the driver at the time of offence but are not able to do so in respect of PCNs issued for bus lane violation.

Norman Baker: Regulations made by the Government for parking enforcement in England (including London) under the Traffic Management Act 2004 and for bus lanes enforcement in England outside London under the Transport Act 2000, enable the keeper of a vehicle that was, at the material time, hired from a vehicle hire company under a hiring agreement, to pass responsibility for the payment of any penalty charge notice (PCN) incurred to the hirer.
	The legislation that was sponsored by London local authorities to enable enforcement of bus lanes in London—the London Local Authorities Act 1996—does not provide an equivalent power to the vehicle keeper. The Mayor of London, along with the London local authorities, has policy responsibility for this locally-sponsored legislation. I have drawn this exchange to the attention of the Mayor.

Transport: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what capital allocations he expects to make in respect of each local authority scheme in the supported group in each of the next four years; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of the cost of each such scheme expected to be met by central Government contributions;
	(2)  what criteria he plans to use to determine which local authority major schemes from the development group will be funded by central Government;
	(3)  what mechanisms will be in place for local residents to contribute to the process by which local authority major schemes in the(a)supported,(b)development and(c) pre-qualification group are (i) revised and (ii) assessed;
	(4)  what his most recent estimate is of (a) the monetary value of (i) central Government, (ii) local authority, (iii) private finance initiative and (iv) developer contributions and (b) total scheme construction cost in respect of each major scheme in the (A) supported, (B) development and (C) pre-qualification groups.

Norman Baker: holding answer 12 November 2011
	The agreed Department for Transport contribution to the supported pool schemes, following the announcement made on 4 February 2011, is shown in the following table along with the expected allocation of spend over each of the next four years, the total cost of each scheme, and the proportion of this to be provided by Department for Transport.
	
		
			  DFT contribution (£   million)   
			 Scheme 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Total Total cost (£ million) Proportion of funding from DFT (   %   ) 
			 Thornton to Switch Island Link (Sefton) — 7.0 7.5 — 14.5 18.6 78 
			 Taunton Northern Inner Distributor Road — 8.0 6.1 1.0 15.2 21.7 70 
			 Heysham to M6 Link Road — 27.4 45.9 37.1 110.9 123.3 90 
			 Leeds Station Southern Access — 1.9 10.5 — 12.4 14.4 86 
			 East of Exeter 8.8 1.6 — — 10.4 14.4 72 
			 A57 M1 to Todwick Crossroads (Rotherham) — 8.3 3.5 — 11.8 14.7 80 
			 Mansfield Public Transport Interchange 0.7 5.8 0.7 — 7.2 8.9 81 
			 Ipswich Fit for the 21st Century — 9.3 8.9 0.1 18.3 21.5 85 
			 Midland Metro — 26.5 48.9 0.0 75.4 129.2 58 
		
	
	The expected spend on the Heysham to M6 Link Road scheme also includes £0.5 million after 2014-15.
	The remaining scheme in the supported pool, Mersey Gateway Bridge, is not included in this table as the funding package for the scheme, including toll revenues and private finance is being reviewed with the promoter. No other scheme in the supported or development pool is currently proposed to be taken forward under the private finance initiative.
	The criteria to be used in the prioritisation process for schemes in the development pool will be made on a basis that is consistent with Government's proposals to reform the way decisions are made on which transport projects to prioritise. We will refine the precise methodology to be used but is likely to include the following criteria, as stated in the document ‘Investment on Local Major Transport Schemes: Update’:
	Value for money;
	The proportion of overall funding coming from non-Department for Transport sources;
	Deliverability;
	Strategic importance;
	A consideration of modal and regional balance across the programme.
	We have published the Expressions of Interest already received from the local authority promoters and we welcome comments from any interested parties including local residents. We will also publish the Best and Final Funding Bids once they are received on 9 September and will similarly invite comments on those. The local authority promoters also have a responsibility to consult residents and stakeholders when developing individual scheme proposals at appropriate stages. The public also have an opportunity to make representations whenever planning permission, scheme orders or compulsory purchase orders are applied for.
	The best estimates of the total construction cost and the central Government, local authority, and third party contributions in respect of each major scheme in the development pool, including those promoted from the pre-qualification pool, are as set out in the Expressions of Interest received from the local authority promoters in December 2010 and January 2011. These are available on the DFT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/major/transportschemesupdate/
	The Department is challenging local authorities to submit revised bids for development pool schemes by September 2011 that further reduce the call on central Government funds.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General in respect of which offences are cases being returned by the Crown Prosecution Service to the police for charging as part of revised charging arrangements being rolled-out for completion by June 2011.

Dominic Grieve: The Director's Guidance on Charging is issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under section 37A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It sets out the arrangements for the joint working of police officers and prosecutors during the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. The 4th edition (revised arrangements) of the guidance was issued on 21 January 2011 and is being implemented on a rolling basis which is expected to be completed by June 2011.
	Under the revised arrangements the following offences are being returned to the police to charge:
	Summary only offences, irrespective of plea;
	Criminal damage to property valued at less than £5,000 where a not guilty plea is anticipated;
	Handling stolen goods where a guilty plea is anticipated and the case is suitable for disposal in a magistrates court;
	All Fraud Act 2006 where a guilty plea is anticipated and the case is suitable for disposal in a magistrates court;
	Dangerous driving where a guilty plea is anticipated and the case is suitable for disposal in a magistrates court;
	Aggravated TWOC where the case is suitable for disposal in a magistrates court;
	Driving while disqualified and the case is suitable for disposal in a magistrates court.
	Offences involving domestic violence and hate crime are excluded, as well as any motoring offences involving a fatality, terrorism offences and any cases requiring the consent of the Attorney-General or the DPP.

Public Expenditure

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2011, Official Report, column 805W on public expenditure, by how much the Crown Prosecution Service plans to reduce expenditure on (a) staff, (b) accommodation, (c) IT, (d) prosecution and (e) general administrative costs in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Dominic Grieve: The following table shows by how much the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) intends to reduce its expenditure in each of the main expenditure areas in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.
	
		
			 CPS cumulative savings over SR10 
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Staff -15.5 -36.5 -57.5 -74.1 
			 Accommodation -2.3 -3.6 -3.6 -4.0 
			 IT -2.0 -6.7 -11.0 -11.0 
			 Prosecution -6.7 -6.5 -6.4 -21.4 
			 General administrative costs -1,4 -3.0 -4.5 -10.0 
		
	
	The Department's expenditure reduction plans are kept under continuous review and the value of individual components may change over time.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council England: Travel

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England spent on first-class travel for its staff and directors in 2009-10.

Edward Vaizey: The information requested was not recorded centrally by Arts Council England (ACE) prior to January 2010. Staff booked travel with many different suppliers and have no way of reporting the class of individual journeys taken. However, ACE now has a designated travel supplier, who centralises and records all their travel. During the period January 2010 to February 2011, ACE spent £5,493.30 on first-class travel.
	The ACE travel policy states that all staff, including directors, will use standard class travel, or the most cost-effective fare. In rare and reasonable circumstances, an executive director may authorise first-class rail travel.

Arts Council England: South Staffordshire

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much money Arts Council England spent in South Staffordshire constituency per head of population in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Vaizey: In the South Staffordshire constituency Arts Council England spend per head this financial year is currently £0.11.
	The funding figures used are from the latest period available, 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2010, and as such the answer provided does not equate to a complete year of funding.

British Sky Broadcasting

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the proposed takeover of BSkyB by News International.

Jeremy Hunt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 3 March 2011, Official Report, columns 518-19, setting out that I propose to accept undertakings from News Corporation on their proposed merger with BSkyB. I have launched a consultation as to whether the undertakings in lieu offered by News Corporation are sufficient to remedy, mitigate or prevent the public interest concerns in relation to media plurality raised by this merger. As part of that process I have published all relevant documentation on my Department’s website:
	www.culture.gov.uk

Departmental Expenditure

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) each public body sponsored by his Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year. [Official Report, 15 March 2011, Vol. 525, c. 5MC.]

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is audited by the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO charge notional fees for the audit of central Government Departments and Executive Agencies. There is therefore no expenditure for the external audit of the Department’s Resource Accounts and The Royal Parks Accounts.
	The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has management and control responsibilities for the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) and the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund (OLDF). Both funds are audited by the NAO and charged a hard fee in cash as set out in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Body Auditor 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Department For Culture, Media and Sport (NLDF) National Audit Office 26,500 28,900 24,000 
			 Department For Culture, Media and Sport (OLDF) National Audit Office 26,500 28,900 24,000 
		
	
	Most of the Department’s arm’s length bodies are audited by the NAO and are charged a hard fee in cash. The two bodies audited by private firms are companies as well as being charities, and have not been designated for audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000.
	The following table sets out the bodies, their auditors and the fees charged as disclosed in the bodies’ annual reports and accounts.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Body Auditor 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Arts Council England(1)  National Audit Office 68,000 75,000 60,000 
			 Arts Council England Lottery Account National Audit Office 62,000 71,000 61,000 
			 Big Lottery Fund National Audit Office 106,000 105,000 110,000 
			 British Library National Audit Office 53,000 52,000 50,000 
			 British Museum National Audit Office 59,000 50,000 47,000 
			 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment National Audit Office 28,000 27,000 26,090 
			 English Heritage National Audit Office 74,000 69,000 61,000 
			 Football Licensing Authority National Audit Office 8,900 6,900 6,200 
			 Gambling Commission National Audit Office 39,000 47,000 33,000 
			 Geffrye Museum National Audit Office 9,000 7,500 6,400 
			 Horniman Museum BDO Stoy Hayward LLP 13,100 13,825 12,450 
			 Horserace Betting Levy Board National Audit Office 45,000 38,000 35,000 
			 Imperial War Museum National Audit Office 41,000 36,000 34,000 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council National Audit Office 63,000 93,000 58,000 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester Beever and Struthers 9,500 9,500 11,410 
			 National Gallery National Audit Office 40,000 38,650 37,165 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF)(1)  National Audit Office 10,000 9,000 8,000 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund (maintained by NHMF) National Audit Office 42,000 42,000 36,000 
			 National Lottery Commission National Audit Office 25,000 24,000 22,000 
			 National Museums Liverpool National Audit Office 54,000 50,000 45,000 
			 National Maritime Museum National Audit Office 36,000 35,000 33,000 
		
	
	
		
			 National Museum of Science and Industry National Audit Office 92,000 92,000 87,000 
			 National Portrait Gallery National Audit Office 35,000 32,000 31,000 
			 Natural History Museum National Audit Office 49,000 51,000 46,000 
			 Olympic Delivery Authority National Audit Office 238,000 212,000 158,000 
			 Olympic Lottery Distributor National Audit Office 13,000 13,000 12,000 
			 Public Lending Right Central Fund Account National Audit Office 18,000 17,500 17,000 
			 Royal Armouries National Audit Office 36,000 36,000 41,000 
			 Sir John Soane’s Museum National Audit Office 14,000 14,000 8,250 
			 Sport England National Audit Office 102,000 80,000 76,000 
			 Sport England Lottery Distribution Fund National Audit Office 55,000 52,000 47,500 
			 Tate National Audit Office 49,000 42,000 40,000 
			 UKAnti-Doping(2)  National Audit Office 17,000 n/a n/a 
			 UK Film Council(1)  National Audit Office 33,000 33,000 21,000 
			 UK Film Council Lottery Distribution Fund National Audit Office 24,000 24,000 20,000 
			 UK Sport(1)  National Audit Office 45,000 45,000 33,000 
			 UK Sport Lottery Distribution Account National Audit Office 28,000 28,000 26,000 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum National Audit Office 45,000 45,000 37,000 
			 VisitBritain National Audit Office 57,000 55,000 52,000 
			 Wallace Collection National Audit Office 23,000 22,000 22,000 
			 (1) Under the National Lottery etc Act 1993, Arts Council England, CE, NHMF, Sport England, UK Film Council and UK Sport are required to produce separate Lottery Distribution accounts. These are audited separately and shown as separate lines from the parent body’s accounts. (2) UK Anti-Doping has only been in independent operation since 2009-10. Note: The Big Lottery Fund is a Lottery body but has its Lottery income consolidated with its other figures.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

John Penrose: As of 1 March 2011, in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport there were two members of staff in the redeployment pool, of which one had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) procurement and (b) outsourcing function of (i) his Department and (ii) the (A) agency and (B) non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a combined procurement and outsourcing function. During the financial year 2009-10 the cost to the public purse, which includes office space, utilities, IT and salaries, was £223,274.
	During the financial year 2009-10 the Royal Parks agency procurement cost was £99,743. They do not have a function which specifically deals with outsourcing.
	The Department does not collate this information for its arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton.
	Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Electoral Reform Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services in each year since 2005.

John Penrose: Nil.

Licensing Laws

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effects on pubs and clubs of the timetable for obtaining a licence for small live music events.

John Penrose: We are currently considering how to deliver our commitment to cut red tape and encourage the performance of more live music, while ensuring that there is appropriate protection for local communities. A reduction in red tape associated with the licensing of regulated entertainment would clearly benefit pubs and other venues that put on live music events now. This is why we are continuing to have discussions with representatives from the music industry, the Local Government Association and others so that we can find the best possible solution and bring forward proposals.
	We have also provided warm support for the Bill proposed by Lord Clement-Jones in this area, albeit with some concerns over details of some of its proposals.

Ofcom

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the policy of Ofcom is on steps to ensure that unlicensed white space spectrum is available for innovative applications.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 3 March 2011
	In its Digital Dividend Review statement, published in December 2007, Ofcom stated that it was minded to allow licence exempt access to whitespace spectrum, providing harmful interference was not caused to licensed users, such as Digital Terrestrial Television and Programme Making and Special Events services. Ofcom has recently concluded a consultation on its approach to implementing licence exempt whitespace access. A summary of responses and next steps will be published during spring 2011.

Responsible Gambling Strategy Board

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with representatives of the gambling industry on the funding of (a) the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, (b) the Responsible Gambling Fund and (c) the Responsibility in Gambling Trust.

John Penrose: In the course of the usual engagement with our sectors, my officials and I have met with various organisations and individuals, including representatives of the gambling industry to discuss a wide range of issues.

Responsible Gambling Strategy Board

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding the Gambling Commission has provided for the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Penrose: Under a service level agreement, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board received £250,000 in 2010-11 from the Gambling Commission in order to provide independent advice on the research, education and treatment elements of the Commission’s responsible gambling strategy.

Sports: Special Educational Needs

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding his Department provides for sporting organisations for people with special needs.

Hugh Robertson: holding answer 7 March 2011
	UK Sport provides funding and support to elite athletes from six different disability groups in the Paralympic movement, including the recently reinstated intellectual disability group.
	The figures in the table include data on athlete and programme support for all UK Sport funded summer and winter Paralympic sports:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010-11 grants paid (1)   
			 Summer Paralympics 11,536,190 
			 Winter Paralympics 94,067 
			   
			 Predicted 2011-13 APA and Programme grants   
			 Summer Paralympic 25,215,316 
			 Intellectual Disability 750,000 
			 Winter Paralympic 281,750 
			 (1) Athlete Personal Award (APA) and Programme—includes current planned amount for March 2011. 
		
	
	UK Sport also provides funding to the following partners:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Partner 2010-11 2011-13 
			 UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability 40,000 75,000 
			 British Paralympic Performance Services 450,000 900,000 
		
	
	A key strand of Sport England's work is to create more opportunities for those with disabilities to participate in sport.
	As part of the Olympic legacy—Places, People, Play, plans are under way for allocating ring-fenced funding of £8 million to support sport participation for disabled people over the next two years. Sport England is also investing £1.54 million per year of Exchequer funding in the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS), to support their strategy to increase participation and opportunities for disabled people.
	In addition, Sport England is working closely with EFDS and other national disability sports organisations to agree the most appropriate way to deliver a further investment of £2 million of national lottery funding to help support participation in sport by disabled people.

Sports: Young People

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of participation in sport by young people.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 3 March 2011
	The previous Government’s 2009/10 PE and Sport survey showed that 55% of young people were doing three hours of school sport, but also showed huge decline in Years 12 and 13 to 23% and 21% respectively.
	Harnessing the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the School Games will give every school and every pupil the opportunity to participate in competitive school sport, inspiring a generation of young people to start a lifetime of sport.

Telecommunications: Sign Language

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that a choice of telecommunications services is available for users of British Sign Language.

Edward Vaizey: Revisions to the EU Electronic Communications Framework, including the Universal Services Directive, provide for member states to empower national regulatory authorities (Ofcom in the UK) to specify, where appropriate, requirements to ensure that disabled end-users:
	(a) have access to electronic communications services equivalent to that enjoyed by the majority of end-users; and
	(b) benefit from the choice of undertakings and services available to the majority of end-users.
	The revised framework makes clear that responsibility for decisions on equivalence reside with the National Regulatory Authority (NRA)
	In order to fully implement these new provisions, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is proposing to make changes to section 51 of the Communications Act 2003 to clarify Ofcom's power to impose a general condition in relation to equivalence. This will be in addition to the existing powers Ofcom have under General Conditions of Entitlement (GC 15) and the Universal Service Order 2003.
	In addition DCMS continue to analyse responses to the recent Government public consultation on proposals to implement the revised framework, including the new Article 23a of the USD Directive, detailed above.
	At the same time Ofcom are undertaking a review of relay services which support disabled end users in their use of electronic communications. The objective of this review is to assess whether current arrangements for the provision of relay services are adequate in delivering equivalence to voice telephony for hearing- and speech-impaired end-users (including BSL users) and, if they are not, to consider proportionate solutions. The formal public consultation element of this review will launch in the spring.
	DCMS's proposed changes to the Communications Act 2003 will enable Ofcom, following the outcome of their review, to mandate the changes they deem appropriate and necessary to ensure that disabled end-users have access to the equivalence and choice required by the revisions to Framework.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision her Department makes for asylum seekers waiting to hear the outcome of their cases; and what the cost of such support was to the public purse in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency provides support in the form of accommodation and/or subsistence to everyone who claims asylum and who would otherwise be destitute, until they have exhausted their appeal rights. Support is also provided to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and who face a legitimate barrier to return. This includes a number who are judicially reviewing the decision not to grant asylum.
	The total cost of asylum support in 2009-10 was £524 million.

Asylum

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet representatives of the refugee charity sector in Scotland to discuss the effects of reductions in funding for the UK Border Agency on the asylum system.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department currently has no plans to meet with representatives of the refugee charity sector in Scotland in this regard.
	The UK Border Agency is committed to continuing to work with Voluntary Sector partners. However, asylum intake has reduced significantly since grant payments were first put in place. It is only right that funding is reduced accordingly to reflect this. The grant reduction also reflects the fact that the UK Border Agency’s budget has been cut as part of the Government’s action to reduce the public deficit.

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to improve the quality of the initial decision-making stage of asylum applications.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency continues to invest in quality through a detailed audit process developed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support a continuous improvement in quality. In addition to auditing individual decisions it conducts audits of the quality in specific areas of interest such as potential victims of trafficking, maintaining the best interests of the child, and Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual decisions. The Border Agency provides a wide variety of training, policy, guidance and tools to support high quality decisions on asylum applications. The Asylum Improvement Project, which was established by the Government in summer 2010, is exploring new ways to improve the asylum system which includes detailed work to reduce the number of asylum decisions overturned at appeal.

Asylum

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers were (a) granted asylum and (b) refused asylum and returned to their home country in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: Information on the outcome of asylum applications is available in Main Table 2.7 of Control of Immigration: Annual Bulletin, United Kingdom 2009, published in August 2010. This publication is available in the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	Data for 2010 will be available in August 2011. A summary is as follows:
	
		
			 Analysis of applications for asylum, excluding dependants, made 2005 to 2009; estimated outcomes, as at May 2010   (1) 
			 Principal applicants 
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009   (4) 
			 Total principal applicants 25,710 23,610 23,430 25,930 24,485 
			       
			 Summary of estimated outcomes (including appeal outcomes at IAA/AIT) (2)       
			 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum as a percentage of total applications (21) (22) (25) (26) (26) 
			 Not recognised as a refugee but granted HP or DL as a percentage of total applications (11) (10) (9) (9) (9) 
			 Refused asylum, HP or DL, or withdrawn by appellant as a percentage of total applications (65) (64) (59) (56) (52) 
			 Cases with decision not known(3) as a percentage of total applications (3) (5) (7) (8) (13) 
			 (1) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest five (— = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Appeals do not include outcomes of cases reconsidered prior to appeal. Excludes cases which were successful after appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal/Immigration Appeal Review or higher courts. (3) No confirmation of a decision had been received when statistics were compiled on 10 May 2010. Includes appeals awaiting an outcome. (4) Provisional figures. 
		
	
	The proportion of refused applicants does not include outcomes of cases reconsidered prior to appeal, and they also may include cases that were successful after appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal/Immigration Appeal Review or higher courts.
	Information on those refused asylum and returned to their home country is not available and could be obtained only by the detailed examination of management information at disproportionate cost.

Crime: Statistics

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of (a) the accuracy of statistical information on crime provided by her Department and (b) the merits of proposals to change the method of (i) gathering and (ii) publishing crime statistics.

Lynne Featherstone: In line with the Code of Practice for official statistics, information about the accuracy and quality of crime statistics produced by the Home Office are published alongside the statistics. In their report on trust in crime statistics published in May 2010, the UK Statistics Authority assessed the technical quality of Home Office crime statistics to compare well with corresponding statistics for other countries. However, the Authority also indicated that much crime and antisocial behaviour is being missed by both the British Crime Survey and police recorded crime and the statistics give an incomplete and partial picture.
	The Authority also noted the importance of the statistics being seen as free from political interference to improve public trust in them. This is why, as set out in the written ministerial statement given by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on 20 January 2011, Official Report, columns 48-49WS, she asked for independent advice from Jil Matheson, the National Statistician, on changes to the scope of crime statistics and on the future collection arrangements once responsibility for their publication moves from the Home Office to an independent body.

Death: Registration

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to ensure that deaths occurring in England are registered in a timely and exhaustive manner.

Damian Green: The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 provides that any death not reported to a coroner is required to be registered within five days of its occurrence, or within 14 days if written notice of the death is given to the registrar. The Act also places a duty on those qualified to do so (e.g. a relative of the deceased, or any person present at the death) to give information to the registrar to enable the registration to take place, and makes it an offence to fail to do so if required. Additionally, if a death has not been registered within the above time limits, registrars are authorised under the Act to require an informant to attend at the register office for this purpose.
	A death reported to a coroner where he or she has opened an inquest may be registered only on the conclusion of the inquest, or before the conclusion of the inquest if the coroner has adjourned it on being informed that a person has been charged with an offence concerning the death.

Departmental Leaseback Arrangements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets her Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease.

Damian Green: There has been no sale and lease back of property assets in the last 12 months.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department were in the Civil Service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Damian Green: As at 28 February 2011, 244 members of staff were in a redeployment pool/register operated by the Home Office and its agencies. Of these, 143 members of staff had been in a redeployment pool/register for more than six months as of that date.
	The number of staff in a redeployment pool/register as at 28 February represents around 0.83% of the total headcount of the Home Office and its agencies. This response covers Home Office HQ, the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) procurement and (b) outsourcing function of (i) her Department and (ii) the (A) agency and (B) non-departmental public body for which she is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The cost of procurement functions in the Home Department, its agencies and the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is provided in the following table. Outsourcing functions are not separately identified and the cost of such functions, if relevant, is included within the figures provided in the table.
	
		
			 Year ended 31 March 2010 Cost of the procurement function   (£000) 
			 Home Office 3,150 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 282 
			 Identity and Passport Service 3,542 
			 UK Border Agency 4,900 
			 National Police Improvement Agency (inward and outward facing procurement activities) 4,510 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 1,928 
			 Independent Police Complaints Commission 159 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority 69 
			 Total 18,540

Detention Centres

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average monthly cost to the public purse of holding a person in immigration detention in each facility was in 2010.

Damian Green: It is not possible to answer the question by giving details of average monthly cost in each detention facility since this information is commercially sensitive. Seven out of the 10 immigration removal centres are run by private contractors and the cost for running these centres are only agreed after an extensive tendering exercise. By giving the cost of running these centres we would jeopardise the process of ensuring that the taxpayer gets the optimum price. The average estimated direct monthly cost of holding a person in any of our immigration detention facility is £3,407.

Detention Centres: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of steps taken by immigration detention facilities to improve the family-friendly nature of their institutions;
	(2)  what has been her Department's expenditure on steps to make immigration detention centres more family-friendly in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The Government are committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes. On 16 December 2010 we published our plans for doing this, including the immediate closure to children of the family unit at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre.
	A fresh approach to managing family returns is being developed which places greater emphasis on engagement with families and aims to encourage families to leave without the need for enforcement action if they are found to have no legal right to be in the UK.
	Most elements of this new process went live across the UK on 1 March, including the setting up of a new independent Family Returns Panel to advise the UK Border Agency on how to ensure the return of those families who do not take up the opportunities to leave under their own steam. A range of options has been developed to provide sufficient flexibility for a tailored approach to each family.
	As a backstop, we are also developing a new option of pre-departure accommodation for use when other options for ensuring return have failed. This will not look or feel like an immigration removal centre; families will be held in self-contained flats, providing them with independence and privacy, within a large setting, including extensive grounds. It will be run on a care model rather than a secure one and there will be provision for family members to leave the premises after suitable risk assessments. The project to create the pre-departure accommodation has engaged the use of a number of specialist consultants for areas such as surveying and planning. We have so far received invoices for around £65,000.
	The pre-departure accommodation will take a little longer than 1 March to establish so a small number of family rooms will remain available at Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre in the meantime. Their use will be kept to an absolute minimum during this interim period. We do not expect them to be used beyond May for families with children, other than for those few cases of families who are refused entry to the UK at the border and need to be held for a short time while enquiries are made and/or until a return flight can be arranged for them. There may also be the occasional need to use Tinsley for criminal or other high-risk families who could not be accommodated safely in the pre-departure accommodation but this would be rare.
	The family facility at Tinsley House has just been refurbished to create a far more family-friendly environment. This work has cost £1.3 million.
	Both the family unit at Tinsley House and the new pre-departure accommodation will be subject to regular assessments and reporting by UK Border Agency monitors, but also to the oversight and inspection of HM Chief Inspector for Prisons, the Children's Commissioner for England and the Independent Monitoring Board.

Detention Centres: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support her Department provides to young children detained in the immigration system.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency takes very seriously its responsibilities towards children. The agency is required under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to carry out its functions having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. Statutory guidance has been issued to the agency on how to fulfil this duty and all staff are required to complete training on keeping children safe.
	As part of the Government’s commitment to children, we announced on 16 December 2010 plans to end the detention of families with children for immigration purposes and new processes were rolled out on 1 March to achieve this.
	Special arrangements are also in place for unaccompanied children who arrive in the UK to claim asylum. The children are referred to the nearest local authority immediately on arrival to ensure that they receive the same standard of care and support as any other child in need. Their asylum claims are then considered by specialist case owners with enhanced safeguards to take account of their vulnerability. Even if their asylum claims fail the children are not returned to their countries of origin unless appropriate reception and care arrangements have been put in place.

Detention Centres: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps she has taken to ensure the welfare of children during the asylum application process.

Damian Green: We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of asylum seeking children who arrive in the UK either unaccompanied or as part of a family group. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in the United Kingdom under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
	Where a child forms part of an asylum seeking family, further support has been provided to UKBA staff as part of the recent work to end child detention for immigration purposes. A new asylum instruction was published on 1 March 2011, providing additional advice on how to process an asylum application made by an adult with at least one child dependant under 18, and how to consider the best interests of the child within that process. Specialist training has also been provided for any asylum case owners who will be required to host family return conferences or family departure meetings, both key stages within the new family returns process which was rolled out nationally on 1 March 2011. A new family key worker pilot based in the north-west region started recently with the aim of providing further practical support for families going through the asylum process.
	There are a considerable number of safeguards in place to protect the welfare of unaccompanied asylum seeking children and these are documented within the ‘processing an asylum application from a child’ guidance. Recent changes include providing further guidance on considering the best interest of the child, the introduction of a standardised welfare pro forma to ensure newly encountered unaccompanied children's physical welfare is properly considered in advance of any interview, as well as piloting a child specific asylum screening form. All unaccompanied children are referred to a local authority as well as the Refugee Council's Children Panel to ensure they obtain appropriate care and advice throughout the asylum process.

Electoral Reform Services Ltd

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the monetary value was of contracts her Department placed with Electoral Reform Services Ltd in each year since 2005.

Damian Green: The following table provides spend relating to Electoral Reform Services for financial years 2005 to date.
	The spend data are also shown for two business areas that are no longer part of the Home Office: Communities Group which moved to Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in 2006 and National Offender Management Service (NOMS) which formed part of the new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in 2007.
	
		
			 Spend (£) 
			 Financial year HO Communities Group NOMS 
			 2005-06 n/a 833.50 1,907.84 
			 2006-07 352.50 n/a 1,549.28 
			 2007-08 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2008-09 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2009-10 1,923.22 n/a n/a 
			 2010-11 1,233.75 n/a n/a 
			 Total 3,509.47 833.50 3,457,12

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of foreign national (a) postgraduate students, (b) undergraduate students and (c) students on sub-degree level courses who entered the UK on student visas and were entitled to work in the UK for a period after completion of their studies who took up this entitlement in the last five years.

Damian Green: There are many different work routes available to students on completion of their course. Data on each of these and the previous courses of the students is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate costs.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were granted to citizens of each non-EU country in each of the 12 months to January 2011.

Damian Green: The following table provides the latest available data, in line with officially published statistics, for the number of student visas granted to applicants of non-EU countries. The data covers the calendar year for 2010.
	
		
			 Main applicant student/tier four stats for 2010, by nationality (issued only), year issued 2010 
			 Nationality Total 
			 Afghanistan 354 
			 Albania 359 
			 Algeria 333 
			 Andorra 2 
			 Angola 233 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 12 
			 Argentina 142 
			 Armenia 104 
			 Australia 1,035 
			 Azerbaijan 432 
			 Bahamas 53 
			 Bahrain 643 
			 Bangladesh 8,989 
			 Barbados 112 
			 Belarus 135 
			 Belize 14 
			 Benin 22 
			 Bhutan 19 
			 Bolivia 44 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 53 
			 Botswana 230 
			 Brazil 2,262 
			 British Citizen 8 
			 British Dependent Territories Citizen 2 
			 British National Overseas 1,816 
			 British Overseas Citizen 1 
			 Brunei 1,034 
			 Burkina 10 
			 Burma (Myanmar) 257 
			 Burundi 5 
			 Cambodia 41 
			 Cameroon 665 
			 Canada 3,503 
			 Cape Verde 2 
			 Central African Republic 0 
			 Chad 2 
			 Chile 348 
			 China 44,234 
			 Colombia 3,556 
			 Comoros 4 
			 Congo 15 
			 Costa Rica 25 
			 Croatia 155 
			 Cuba 8 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 23 
			 Djibouti 4 
			 Dominica 14 
		
	
	
		
			 Dominican Republic 22 
			 East Timor (Timor-Leste) 3 
			 Ecuador 145 
			 Egypt 660 
			 El Salvador 16 
			 Equatorial Guinea 13 
			 Eritrea 7 
			 Ethiopia 80 
			 Fiji 11 
			 Gabon 4 
			 Gambia 181 
			 Ghana 832 
			 Grenada 20 
			 Guatemala 21 
			 Guinea 45 
			 Guinea-Bissau 1 
			 Guyana 31 
			 Haiti 4 
			 Honduras 14 
			 Hong Kong 5,317 
			 Hungary 0 
			 India 42,545 
			 Indonesia 907 
			 Iran 2,483 
			 Iraq 356 
			 Israel 208 
			 Ivory Coast 33 
			 Jamaica 104 
			 Japan 3,760 
			 Jordan 765 
			 Kazakhstan 2,121 
			 Kenya 916 
			 Korea (North) 2 
			 Kosovo 62 
			 Kuwait 1,130 
			 Kyrgyzstan 81 
			 Laos 1 
			 Lebanon 370 
			 Lesotho 17 
			 Liberia 22 
			 Libya 2,440 
			 Macau 165 
			 Macedonia 77 
			 Madagascar 15 
			 Malawi 166 
			 Malaysia 6,284 
			 Maldives 69 
			 Mali 22 
			 Mauritania 9 
			 Mauritius 733 
			 Mexico 1,068 
			 Moldova 64 
			 Monaco 3 
			 Mongolia 135 
			 Montenegro 48 
			 Morocco 490 
			 Mozambique 31 
			 Namibia 30 
			 Nauru 0 
			 Nepal 2,333 
			 New Zealand 212 
			 Nicaragua 8 
			 Niger 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Nigeria 10,948 
			 Oman 645 
			 Pakistan 24,485 
			 Palestinian Authority 2 
			 Panama 21 
			 Papua New Guinea 12 
			 Paraguay 4 
			 Peru 214 
			 Philippines 3,772 
			 Qatar 895 
			 Russia 3,160 
			 Rwanda 58 
			 San Marino 2 
			 Sao Tome And Principe 0 
			 Saudi Arabia 8,090 
			 Senegal 116 
			 Serbia 232 
			 Seychelles 54 
			 Sierra Leone 108 
			 Singapore 1,846 
			 Solomon Islands 1 
			 Somalia 7 
			 South Africa 495 
			 South Korea 6,488 
			 Sri Lanka 7,583 
			 St Kitts and Nevis 12 
			 St Lucia 47 
			 St Vincent 40 
			 Stateless (Art One 1951 Convention) 14 
			 Sudan 188 
			 Surinam 1 
			 Swaziland 13 
			 Switzerland 0 
			 Syria 395 
			 Taiwan 3,535 
			 Tajikistan 40 
			 Tanzania 476 
			 Thailand 5,085 
			 Togo 16 
			 Tonga 3 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 359 
			 Tunisia 57 
			 Turkey 4,212 
			 Turkmenistan 212 
			 Uganda 399 
			 Ukraine 839 
			 United Arab Emirates 913 
			 United Nations 11 
			 United States 14,477 
			 Unspecified Nationality 39 
			 Uruguay 22 
			 Uzbekistan 138 
			 Vanuatu 1 
			 Venezuela 303 
			 Vietnam 2,719 
			 Western Samoa 1 
			 XXB (Refugee 1957 Convention) 8 
			 XXC (Northern Cyprus) 5 
			 XXH (Hong Kong SAL) 80 
			 XXP (Palestinian Stateless) 214 
			 Yemen 159 
		
	
	
		
			 Yugoslavia 5 
			 Zambia 230 
			 Zimbabwe 248 
			 Grand total 253,786

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas students from  (a) EU member states and  (b) outside the EU were attending (i) universities and (ii) further education colleges in the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply
	The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show in the 2009-10 academic year there were 2,493,420 enrolments in UK higher education institutions. Of these enrolments, 125,045 were EU domiciled (excluding UK) and 280,760 were non-EU domiciled. Domicile has been used as opposed to nationality as this is a more widely used and reliable method of measuring overseas students.
	In 2009-10, 2,322,200 learners were participating in Government-funded further education at a general further education colleges (including tertiary colleges) in England. Of these learners, 14,800 had a country of domicile in the EU (excluding the UK) and 5,400 had a country of domicile outside of the EU. Information on the nationality of learners in further education is not available. Information regarding students attending further education colleges in the rest of the UK is not held by the Department.
	Government-funded learning as recorded on the individualised learner record (ILR) for further education is restricted to home learners. Therefore funded learners who are non EEA (European economic area) nationals must have been resident in the UK for the three years preceding their course start date and the main purpose for residence was not to receive full-time education during any part of that three year period. There are a limited number of exceptions to this, for example-refugees, learners with indefinite leave to remain status, or learners studying under reciprocal exchange agreements.
	The UK continues to welcome genuine students from around the world to study at genuine education institutions here.

Homicide

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on any links between income inequality and rate of (a) homicide and (b) other crime.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office has conducted no formal assessment of the impact of income inequality (ie the gap between the richest and the poorest) on levels of crime. The Home Office has, however, conducted an analysis of the results of the British Crime Survey to see if there is a link between household income and risk of being a victim of crime. This shows that there is no link between household income and violence, criminal damage, domestic burglary or theft from the person. There is a link between the highest earning households and vehicle crime that may be due to the multiple ownership of cars. This analysis was published in the Home Office annual crime statistics publication, Crime in England and Wales 2009-10.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the inter-departmental ministerial group on trafficking monitored the progress of anti-trafficking measures in the UK between May 2010 and December 2010; and what reports on activity members of the group received.

Damian Green: holding answer 28 February 2011
	 The Inter Departmental Ministerial Group (IDMG) is made up of Ministers from a range of Departments, which have received advice on a range of trafficking matters.
	The chair of the IDMG received updates on human trafficking, and officials from a range of departments monitored progress, based on information provided by operational partners.

Human Trafficking

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to make an announcement on her policy on human trafficking.

Damian Green: Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the Government. We are committed to tackling organised crime groups which profit from this human misery and to protecting victims. We are due to publish our new strategy on human trafficking in the spring.

Human Trafficking

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to identify victims of human trafficking.

Damian Green: Since April 2009 we have had in place a multi-agency framework for identifying and protecting victims of trafficking called the national referral mechanism (NRM). Decisions about who is a victim of trafficking are made by trained specialists in designated 'Competent Authorities'.
	We have initiated a number of improvements to our victim identification processes, including a new package of training for Competent Authorities and improved guidance for Competent Authorities and frontline UK Border Agency staff.

Human Trafficking

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will announce the Government's human trafficking policy by way of an oral statement in the House.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 March 2011
	 Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the Government. We are committed to tackling organised crime groups which profit from this human misery and to protecting victims. We are due to publish our new strategy on human trafficking in the spring, either by oral or written statement.

Human Trafficking

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she gave to the EU Directive on human trafficking in formulating her policy on human trafficking.

Damian Green: The Government decided not to opt into the European directive on human trafficking at the outset, but to review our position in line with the revised text. We are currently considering the revised text and will announce a decision in due course.

Illegal Immigrants: Deportation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances force may be used to deport an illegal immigrant; if she will consider the use of alternatives to force in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: We expect all those with no basis of stay in the UK to leave voluntarily, and in certain circumstances we offer assistance with doing so. However, where they refuse to leave we have a duty to uphold our immigration laws by enforcing their departure.
	The vast majority of people detained comply with arrangements for their removal, and while they are taken to the airport to be placed on the aircraft, they make the return journey alone. However, a small minority of people even then refuse to leave and, regrettably, escorts have to be used to enforce their departure.
	It is not our wish that individuals are restrained, but if they refuse to leave and in some cases even become violent in an attempt to harm the officers, damage the aircraft or generally disrupt their removal, we have to ensure they are controlled for safety reasons and comply with the law. There are no other alternatives where people refuse to go.
	Escort officers are trained in the use of control and restraint techniques, which are only used as a matter of last resort when all other alternatives of persuading a person to comply with their removal have failed or they need to be controlled for safety reasons.
	The use of restraint is legitimate and lawful so long as its use is justified, proportionate and de-escalated at the earliest opportunity when the individual has complied. Where restraint is used, officers have to complete a comprehensive report, which is submitted to a senior manager and the UK Border Agency escort monitor for review.

Immigrants: Detainees

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on returning immigration detainees to Côte d'Ivoire.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency considers returns to Côte d'Ivoire on a case by case basis. It does not remove individuals unless it is safe to do so. The agency continues to monitor the situation in the Côte d'Ivoire through its Country of Origin Information Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its returns policy is kept constantly under review.

Immigration Controls: Travellers

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the UK Border Agency has to fully deploy smart zones to improve travellers' experiences of immigration controls; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is currently developing a number of new initiatives, as part of a wider operating process at our ports, which make most effective use of up-to-date technology. Smart zones are a part of this, using information gathered through the e-Borders system to do more checks in advance of arrival, and there are other elements including e-passport gates. Following trials of smart zones at Luton and Calais conducted last year, we will now work in consultation with port operators and carriers to design port specific solutions which continue to secure the border and represent best value for money for the taxpayer.

Immigration: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the effect on Northern Ireland of changes in immigration rules.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department currently has no plans to meet with the Northern Ireland Executive with regard to this matter.
	The changes to the immigration rules have been well publicised in Northern Ireland with officials from the Executive being invited to attend meetings where the changes were discussed. In addition full consultation exercises were undertaken in which the Executive had the opportunity to make their views known.

Immigration: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were subject to immigration bail conditions in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not collate this information as a matter of course. The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter of 19 January 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North as part of the ongoing correspondence on matters concerning a resident of his constituency and the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: holding answer 28 February 2011
	 The UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 7 March 2011.

Missing Persons

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many records there are relating to people aged under 18 on the Missing Persons database.

James Brokenshire: On 2 March 2011, the National Policing Improvement Agency's (NPIA) Missing Persons Bureau database Hermes held 509 records of missing incidents involving individuals currently under the age of 18. Police forces are required to notify the bureau of missing people who have not returned within 72 hours of the initial report to the police. Please note these numbers relate to incidents and not individuals.
	The Hermes database is an operational database used for policing purposes and it may contain records for individuals who have been found by the force but that have not yet been updated on the database. The data are management information and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Passport Office: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 94-95W, on the Passport Office: Liverpool, if she will publish  (a) the results of the review undertaken by the Identity and Passport Service into its estate and staff capacity and  (b) the consultation document being discussed with staff, trade unions and interested parties.

Damian Green: holding answer 4 March 2011
	 I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 541W. The papers used during the consultation process will include the review carried out by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) into its existing and future operational requirements, the multi criteria analysis and the impact assessment which is due to be published shortly.

Police

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects on co-operation between police forces of the election of police commissioners from different political parties.

Nick Herbert: Police authorities throughout England and Wales are made up of members of all political persuasions and independent members and collaborate extensively.
	There is no reason to suppose police and crime commissioners will be any less pragmatic in working with whichever partners bring the best improvement to the police services they provide to the public and they will be answerable at the ballot box if they fall short of that responsibility.
	In addition, the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill imposes a strong duty on police and crime commissioners to collaborate with each other and with chief constables where it is in the public's best interest. Collaboration is one of the ways we expect police and crime commissioners and chief constables to look for opportunities to deliver policing services in a more effective and efficient manner.

Police Community Support Officers: Redundancy

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers were made redundant in each police force area in England and Wales in 2010-11.

Nick Herbert: Separate figures for staff made redundant are not collected centrally. The available data provided in the table show the number of police community support officers dismissed as at 30 September 2010 by police force area. Dismissals include members of staff required to resign, staff that have been made redundant or staff whose contract has been terminated. Figures for the second half of 2010-11 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Police community support officers that have been dismissed as at 30 September 2010, by police force area( 1,2) 
			   Dismissals 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 
			 Bedfordshire 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 3 
			 Cheshire 1 
			 Cleveland 0 
			 Cumbria 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 
			 Dorset 0 
			 Durham 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 
			 Essex 25 
			 Gloucestershire 0 
			 Greater Manchester 1 
			 Gwent 0 
			 Hampshire 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 
			 Humberside 0 
			 Kent 0 
			 Lancashire 1 
			 Leicestershire 0 
			 Lincolnshire 2 
			 London, City of 0 
			 Merseyside 0 
			 Metropolitan police 20 
			 Norfolk 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 
			 Northumbria 0 
			 North Wales 0 
			 North Yorkshire 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 
			 South Wales 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 
			 Suffolk 0 
			 Surrey 1 
			 Sussex 0 
			 Thames Valley 2 
			 Warwickshire 2 
			 West Mercia 2 
			 West Midlands 2 
			 West Yorkshire 2 
			 Wiltshire 0 
			 England and Wales 66 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Dismissals include members of staff required to resign, staff who have been made redundant or staff whose contract has been terminated.

Police: Contracts

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the outsourcing of services currently undertaken by police officers.

Nick Herbert: We are supporting the police service in exploring the value of forming partnerships with private sector organisations for the delivery of back and middle office functions.

Police: Pensions

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely savings to the Police Pension Scheme of the proposed indexation according to the consumer prices index  (a) in 2010-11 and  (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years.

Nick Herbert: The Government have not made any separate estimate of the change in central Government expenditure  (a) in 2010-11 or  (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years for the Police Pension Schemes as a result of the change to indexation of public service pensions and benefits in line with the consumer prices index.
	However, the overall estimated savings in annually managed expenditure over the forecast period for public service pension expenditure were made available in answers to the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) on 27 July 2010,  Official Report, column 1193W and the Office of Budgetary Responsibility, responsible for forecasting expenditure on public service pensions, has included the change to indexation in line with the consumer prices index in their methodology.

Shahid Shabaz Khan

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the government of Pakistan on the potential danger to Shahid Shabaz Khan should he return to that country; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 March 2011
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has had no specific discussion with regards to this matter.
	The UK Government take their international responsibilities seriously. We have a proud history of providing refuge to those in genuine need of our protection. Each application is treated on its own merits and decisions are made based on relevant information available at the time.

Special Constables

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of special constables serving in each police force.

Nick Herbert: The available data are provided in the following table which shows the number of special constables in each police force as at 30 September 2010 (headcount).
	
		
			  Special constable strength by force area as at 30 September 2010 
			   Headcount( 1) 
			 Avon and Somerset 461 
			 Bedfordshire 225 
			 Cambridgeshire 189 
			 Cheshire 360 
			 Cleveland 242 
			 Cumbria 139 
			 Derbyshire 297 
			 Devon and Cornwall 632 
			 Dorset 310 
			 Durham 132 
			 Dyfed-Powys 170 
			 Essex 679 
			 Gloucestershire 162 
			 Greater Manchester 451 
			 Gwent 144 
			 Hampshire 450 
			 Hertfordshire 393 
			 Humberside 340 
			 Kent 284 
			 Lancashire 462 
			 Leicestershire 219 
			 Lincolnshire 163 
			 London, City of 79 
			 Merseyside 466 
			 Metropolitan police 3,944 
			 Norfolk 273 
			 Northamptonshire 228 
			 Northumbria 187 
			 North Wales 217 
			 North Yorkshire 187 
			 Nottinghamshire 281 
			 South Wales 214 
			 South Yorkshire 218 
			 Staffordshire 395 
			 Suffolk 333 
			 Surrey 347 
			 Sussex 277 
			 Thames Valley 473 
			 Warwickshire 205 
			 West Mercia 256 
			 West Midlands 612 
			 West Yorkshire 448 
			 Wiltshire 228 
			 Total 16,772 
			 (1) All figures are provisional, subject to change and have not been verified by forces.

Telecommunications: Databases

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on the Intercept Modernisation Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 4 March 2011
	The Interception Modernisation Programme was a programme set up under the last Government. As made clear in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Government will continue to build on an existing programme of work to preserve the ability of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to obtain communications data and to intercept communications within the appropriate legal framework. We will legislate to ensure this is compatible with the Government's approach to civil liberties and use of communications capabilities. As set out in the Home Office's Structural Reform Plan, details of this legislation will be announced in Parliament in due course.

Terrorism: Deaths

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether each death arising from the terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005 has been registered in the register of deaths for England.

Damian Green: All deaths arising from the terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005 were registered between 20 August 2007 and 28 January 2008.

UK Human Trafficking Centre

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what mechanism she plans to put in place to ensure that a focus on the safeguarding needs of trafficked children is maintained within the proposed National Crime Agency;
	(2)  whether she has plans to integrate the UK Human Trafficking Centre into the National Crime Agency;
	(3)  what the proposed  (a) roles and  (b) responsibilities are of agencies within the proposed National Crime Agency in respect of safeguarding children and young people;
	(4)  what plans she has for the future of the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

Damian Green: The consultation document, 'Policing in the 21(st) Century' announced our intention to create a powerful new body of operational crime fighters-the National Crime Agency-to tackle serious and organised crime more effectively and strengthen our borders. To be established in 2013, this powerful new body will harness and build on the intelligence, analytical and enforcement capabilities of the existing Serious Organised Crime Agency, of which the UK Human Trafficking Centre is a part, and better connect these capabilities to those within the police service, HM Revenue and Customs, the UK Border Agency and a range of other criminal justice partners. It will contain a Border Policing Command that will enhance national security, improve immigration controls and crack down on trafficking of people, weapons and drugs. Further details will be published shortly.

Vetting

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been barred by the Independent Safeguarding Authority in the  (a) statutory,  (b) sporting,  (c) faith and  (d) uniformed groups sector in relation to harm or risk of harm to 16 and 17-year-olds in each year since the organisation was established.

Lynne Featherstone: The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) does not collect data in the form requested.
	The ISA operates under powers established in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which defines a child as anyone who has not attained the age of 18. The ISA can bar individuals who demonstrate harm or a risk of harm to children in general rather than those defined by any specific age category.

Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has a policy to encourage its employees to  (a) volunteer and  (b) donate via payroll giving.

Damian Green: The Home Office does have a policy on volunteering. Our policy encourages staff to take up to five days special leave to develop their skills and experience, while giving something back to the community. In September 2010, the Home Office produced a guidance on volunteering for the Olympics which has been adopted by a large number of other Government Departments. We also offer guidance on charitable fundraising to encourage staff to take part in fundraising events.
	There is no official policy for donating through the payroll but regular promotions take place to encourage staff to set up regular monthly donations. Promotions are managed by inviting charities into offices and directly through intranet and in-house staff magazine campaigns. Permanent guidance on how to set up payments is on our intranet.

PRIME MINISTER

Armed Forces: Middle East

Ben Wallace: To ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the threat to UK security from the situation in the middle east; and if he will review the Government's programme of reductions in the strength of the armed forces in the light of that assessment.

Liam Fox: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Security Council has considered the risks to UK interests, including to our nationals, from the situation in the middle east. The Government will keep the developing situation under review but the events of the last few weeks have reinforced the assessments made in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, including the requirement to be able to respond flexibly with the armed forces able to deal efficiently with a variety of different scenarios.

CABINET OFFICE

Census

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the 2011 Census.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what is the most recent estimate of the cost to the public purse of the 2011 Census. (44275)
	The most recent estimated total cost of the 2011 Census in England and Wales is £482 million. This covers the period 2005-2016.
	The cost and financial control of the 2011 Census was outlined in the White Paper 'Helping to shape tomorrow' which was published in December 2008 and is available on the website
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-project/legislation/index.html

Civil Servants: Leave

Damian Hinds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what practice the civil service has adopted on the accrual of holiday days during maternity leave.

Francis Maude: The Sex Discrimination Act, Maternity and Paternity Leave etc. Regulations require that holiday days should accrue during both ordinary and additional maternity leave. Arrangements for taking accrued leave may vary from department to department under the delegated authority to make their own arrangements for maternity leave.

Electoral Reform Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services in each year since 2005.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office has not placed any contracts with Electoral Reform Services in financial years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Government Departments: Business Plans

Stella Creasy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  which Secretaries of State the Minister of State with responsibility for the coordination of policy has met to discuss  (a) implementation of departmental business plans and  (b) instances when actions stated in such plans as due for completion have not been completed by the due date since November 2010; and on what date each such meeting took place;
	(2)  which Permanent Secretaries the Cabinet Secretary has met to discuss  (a) implementation of departmental business plans and  (b) instances when actions stated in such plans as due for completion have not been completed by the due date since November 2010; and on what date each such meeting took place.

Oliver Letwin: The Government are committed to publishing monthly updates on Departments' progress against key actions and milestones of business plans. The latest updates were published on 4 March 2011. I meet with Secretaries of State and their Permanent Secretaries on a quarterly basis to discuss the implementation of their business plans and I refer the hon. Member to my evidence to the Public Accounts Select Committee on 9 February 2011.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Deputy Prime Minister

Peter Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to abolish his post.

Nicholas Clegg: No.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is to be paid to each local authority in New Homes Bonus in the financial year 2011-12.

Grant Shapps: The new homes bonus will match fund the additional council tax raised for new homes and empty properties brought back into use, for the following six years with an enhancement for affordable homes. New homes bonus provisional allocations for English local authorities have been deposited in the Library of the House. Local authorities have until 10 March to make representations on the data that is used to calculate the payments.
	The summary of responses to the consultation, final scheme design and provisional allocations were published on 17 February and can be viewed at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/newhomesbonus

Affordable Housing: Olympic Games 2012

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether domestic properties built on the Olympic Park will be eligible for the New Homes Bonus.

Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus is a powerful, simple, transparent and permanent incentive for local authorities and communities to increase their aspirations for housing growth. All properties that add to a local authority's effective housing stock will be eligible for the bonus; this includes new homes and empty homes brought back into use. Details of how the level of effective housing is calculated are set out in the Final Scheme Design, available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1846530.pdf

Community Development Foundation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments and grants the Community Development Foundation made in relation to the prevention of extremism since its inception.

Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not provided any payment or grant to the Community Development Foundation in relation to the prevention of extremism since its inception.

Community Development Foundation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what individual payments his Department made to  (a) the Muslim Council of Britain and  (b) its associated bodies in each of the last three years; and for what purpose in each case.

Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government provided £2,500 to the Muslim Council of Britain for a guest table at the council leadership dinner held on 22 February 2010. DCLG has not provided any further funding to the Muslim Council of Britain for the organisation to undertake work or projects.
	For an interim period, funding for the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) was routed through the council as one of MINAB's founding members as MINAB had not then acquired independent charitable status, and as a result did not have its own bank account. Funding for MINAB was made directly to them as soon as they became an independent organisation. The funding was to support them to improve standards in mosques (£116,000 in 2008-09 and £58,000 in 2009-10).
	Muslim Council of Britain has a large and wide ranging national membership of organisations that are affiliated to it. Of these, DCLG has funded the following organisations through the Community Leadership Fund:
	Muslim Youth Helpline-£30,650 (2008-09), £61,888 (2009-10), £64,767 (2010-11) to build their capacity to extend the reach of their support services to vulnerable young people,
	Karimia Institute-£67,180 (2008-09), £50,000 (2009-10), £50,000 (2010-11) for youth leadership training.
	Islamic Society of Britain-£20,000 (2008-09) for developing the Islamic Awareness Week website to promote positive understanding of Islam to other communities.
	Young Muslims UK-£20,000 (2008-09), £5,000 (2009-10) to promote talent among young Muslims
	Muslim Aid-£5,000 (2009-10) for part-sponsorship of Muslim Aid's 25th Anniversary.

Housing Occupancy

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the capacity of registered social landlords to provide appropriately-sized accommodation for working age tenants in properties of a size not warranted by their household size who wish to move;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the number of socially-rented properties of each number of bedrooms in each local authority area to be allocated by local authorities and registered social landlords to meet demand arising from social tenants of working age moving to properties warranted by their household size.

Andrew Stunell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 570W.

Local Government Services: Third Sector

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role he expects the big society to play in providing services previously provided by local government.

Andrew Stunell: The big society is neither a single initiative nor a traditional government programme. Rather, the big society is about putting individuals and groups in the driving seat in their communities, with government playing an enabling role. So one of the three pillars of the big society is our work on public sector reform through which public services will be opened to new providers such as charities, social enterprises and private companies to make them more innovative, diverse and responsive to public need.
	A key plank of this strategy will be delivered through the Localism Bill, which will be introducing new rights to enable communities to challenge to take over running local authority services, and help them save assets and facilities that are important to them.
	The community right to challenge will enable voluntary and community groups, local authority employees that wish to deliver the service as a mutual, and parish councils to express an interest in running a local authority service where they believe they could do it differently or better. The authority must consider the expression of interest and where it accepts it, run a procurement exercise for the service.
	Also, while retaining accountability for standards, government needs to give professionals more freedom so we have ended the comprehensive area assessment, the national indicator set and central control of local area agreement targets.

Local Government: Milk

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the quantity of milk purchased by each local authority in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how much each local authority spent on  (a) milk and  (b) other dairy products in that period.

Bob Neill: holding answer 7 March 2011
	Financial or quantitative information on milk and other dairy products purchased by local authorities in England is not held centrally.

Mortgages

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of  (a) restrictions under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 and  (b) other statutory restrictions on sale or purchase related to residency on the willingness of lenders to grant mortgages for purchases.

Grant Shapps: We have not made any formal assessment of the impact of statutory residential restrictions on the availability of mortgage finance. The decision to lend on any property or to any individual is essentially a commercial judgment for the lender.

Public Expenditure

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on foreign travel in each of the last three years; and in respect of which countries the expenditure was incurred.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Andy McKeon, dated March 2011:
	Parliamentary Question: how much the Audit Commission spent on foreign travel in each of the last three years; and in respect of which countries the expenditure was incurred.
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive on leave.
	The Audit Commission spent £2,168.28 on foreign travel in 2008, £1,306.83 in 2009 and £224.30 in 2010. Only standard/economy tickets were purchased. Details of the journeys are given below:
	
		
			  Country  Detail 
			  2008  
			 Portugal Attendance and presentation on the Commission's work on payment by results in the NHS at the Patient Classification Systems International Conference. 
			 Canada Attendance as part of a UK delegation organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing. The delegation included staff from CLG, Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Assembly. 
			 Austria Attendance at a Eurorai seminar on auditing benefits. 
			 Malta Attendance at the European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network annual assembly. The Audit Commission attended as the UK voting representative. 
			 Belgium Attendance at a conference on the potential role of the external auditor in carbon reduction and corporate social responsibility. 
			   
			  2009  
			 Iceland Attendance at a formal creditors' meeting convened in relation to Landsbanki, one of the failed Icelandic banks. 
			 Denmark Presentation of a paper at the International Research Seminar on Public Service Management and gathering information about international best practice. 
			 Germany Attendance at a European TeamMate User Forum. TeamMate is the audit software used by the Audit Commission. 
			 Spain Attendance at a Eurorai seminar on environmental auditing. 
			   
			  2010  
			 Spain Invitation to speak at the Spanish Auditors Conference in Barcelona on the Commission's experience of using the private sector on public sector audits. 
			 Belgium Attendance at a conference on the potential role of the external auditor in carbon reduction and corporate social responsibility.

Rented Housing: Antisocial Behaviour

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to bring forward proposals to remove more quickly antisocial tenants causing problems for other residents.

Grant Shapps: As I announced on 11 January, we are proposing to introduce a new mandatory ground for possession for serious housing related antisocial behaviour which will make it easier for landlords to take swift and decisive action against the most antisocial tenants. Officials are currently working on details of this proposal which will require legislation to come into force.
	My department is also exploring jointly with the Ministry of Justice whether any unnecessary obstacles to the swift resolution of antisocial behaviour possession cases where serious harm is being caused to individuals and communities exist and, if so, how these can be overcome.
	More widely, the Government are currently consulting on proposals to streamline and improve the existing toolkit available to the police, social landlords and others to tackle antisocial behaviour. The proposals are intended to better protect victims and communities from the serious harm caused by criminal and antisocial behaviour by making the tools faster, more flexible, and more effective.

Sleeping Rough

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of people who are sleeping rough.

Grant Shapps: This Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping. We have maintained the level of Homelessness Grant, with £400 million being made available to local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next four years to help them reduce rough sleeping and prevent homelessness.
	A cross-departmental Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness has been set up to address the complex causes of homelessness and improve support for homeless people.
	We have introduced a new way of evaluating rough sleeping levels. All areas across England now provide counts or robust estimates giving a clear national picture so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Social Conditions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of potential links between income inequality and social and community cohesion.

Andrew Stunell: All Citizenship Survey data are publicly available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/research/citizenshipsurvey/
	The Citizenship Survey gathers regular information on perceptions of community cohesion, defined as the extent to which people agree or disagree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. Levels of overall community cohesion are high. In 2009-10, 85% of people in England either agreed that their local area was one where people from different backgrounds got on well together.
	For the purposes of considering the relationship between income inequality and community cohesion in England, two measures are used here: an area-based measure of deprivation, and the income of the survey respondent.
	Table 1 shows levels of community cohesion by area deciles, based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The table shows levels of cohesion for the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods through to the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods.
	
		
			  Table 1: Community cohesion by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England, 2009-10 
			  Index of Multiple Deprivation( 1)  Percentage of people who definitely agree or tend to agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together 
			 1 (Least deprived) 89 
			 2 90 
			 3 88 
			 4 90 
			 5 88 
			 6 86 
			 7 83 
			 8 79 
			 9 79 
			 10 (Most deprived) 75 
			 All 85 
			 (1) Based on deciles classified according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2007. 
		
	
	Table 2 shows levels of community cohesion for different levels of respondent income, showing the percentage of people who agreed or disagreed that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together. It shows that levels of community cohesion were high across all respondent income bands.
	
		
			  Table 2: Community cohesion by respondent income, England, 2009-10 
			  Respondent income( 1)  Percentage of people who definitely agree or tend to agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together 
			 £75,000 or more 88 
			 £50,000-£74,999 85 
			 £30,000-£49,999 87 
			 £20,000-£29,999 85 
			 £15,000-£19,999 87 
			 £10,000-£ 14,999 83 
			 £5,000-£9,999 84 
			 Under £5,000 82 
			 All 85 
			 (1) Based on respondent income only, this does not reflect the income of the household.

Translation Services

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission has spent on translation and interpretation costs in each of the last three years; and in respect of which languages.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 8 March 2011:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply in the absence of the Chief Executive, who is on leave.
	The Audit Commission spent £17,311.31 in 2010/11, £4,608.78 in 2009/10 and £12,588.51 in 2008/9 on translation and interpretation services. These costs were incurred in order to meet the Commission's responsibilities under disability and race equality legislation. For example, the Commission provides translation of documents in alternative languages on request.
	A list of languages is given below.
	 List of languages
	British sign language
	Braille
	Lithuanian
	Punjabi
	Gujarati
	Bengali
	Urdu
	Hindi
	Cantonese
	Mandarin
	Spanish
	Somali
	Albanian
	Farsi
	Kurdis
	Sora
	Polish

Voting Systems

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to  (a) the Community Development Foundation and  (b) other non-departmental public bodies on participation in initiatives which favour a particular outcome from the referendum on the alternative vote; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: My Department has not issued any guidance to either the Community Development Foundation nor any other non-departmental public body on the alternative vote. Cabinet Office officials will be publishing guidance in due course.

TREASURY

Green Investment Bank

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects on the credit rating for UK debt of placing the liabilities of the proposed Green Investment Bank on the national balance sheet.

Justine Greening: holding answer 2 March 2011
	All credit ratings, including sovereign ratings, are a matter for credit rating agencies. All three major credit rating agencies continue to assign the UK the highest possible credit rating.

Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland

Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the European Commission since 15 December 2010 on state aid approval for the aggregates levy credit scheme in Northern Ireland.

Justine Greening: The Government remain fully committed to reinstating the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland. Officials are working closely with the authorities in Northern Ireland and representatives of the quarrying industry to provide the Commission with evidence to enable them to approve the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme both retrospectively and for the future.

Air Passenger Duty

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review his proposals for increases in air passenger duty.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 November 2010,  Official Report, column 83W, to the hon. Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter).

Child Benefit

Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the value of child benefit payments awarded under the EU co-ordination of social security systems in respect of children living in other EU member states can exceed the full UK rate;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to prevent fraud in cases where child benefit and tax credits are paid to EEA nationals where a child is resident in another EU member state.

Justine Greening: UK child benefit payable under EC Regulation 883/2004 in respect of children resident in another EU/EEA member state will not exceed the full UK rate.
	As with all other child benefit and child tax credit claims, the claimant must provide documentary evidence of the child being claimed for, such as an original birth or adoption certificate. In addition, where a claim is made under EC Regulation 883/2004, HMRC will carry out further checks with the authorities of the other member state to confirm the composition of the family, whether the other parent is working there and whether that member state is paying family benefits. Payments of UK family benefits are not made until the other member state has provided the necessary confirmation.

Child Benefit: British Nationals Abroad

Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether  (a) child benefit is and  (b) tax credits are payable to any UK nationals living outside the EEA.

Justine Greening: Child benefit and tax credits are intended to support families with children and those in low-paid work here. Nationality is not a condition of entitlement. Instead, entitlement to child benefit and tax credits is generally reliant on claimants being in the UK, that is they must be present, ordinarily resident and have a right to reside.
	However, UK Crown servants (such as armed forces personnel and civil servants) posted overseas and their accompanying partners may be treated as being in the UK and may therefore be entitled to child benefit and tax credits during the period of their posting.

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of the maximum entitlement for assistance with childcare costs in  (a) each region,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The number of households known to be in receipt of the maximum entitlement for assistance with child care costs through the child care element of tax credits at December 2010 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Families benefiting from the maximum entitlement for assistance with child care costs 
			  Region  Number 
			 North East 435 
			 North West 1,360 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 830 
			 East Midlands 1,005 
			 West Midlands 1,000 
			 East 1,455 
			 London 7,075 
			 South East 1,955 
			 South West 580 
			 Wales 590 
			 Scotland 1,095 
			 Northern Ireland (NI Dataset) 435 
			 All 17,815

Children: Day Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of expenditure from the public purse on the provision of assistance with childcare costs in 2011-12.

David Gauke: Child care assistance through the child care element of working tax credit is estimated to cost the Exchequer £1.6 billion in 2011-12.
	Income tax and NICs forgone through employer-supported child care is estimated to cost the Exchequer £600 million in 2011-12.
	In addition the Department for Education also funds 15 hours per week (for 38 weeks a year) of free early education for all three and four-year-olds. This is also being extended gradually to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds. Local authorities in England spent over £4 billion on provision for under fives last year, on the early education entitlement and reception classes in schools.

Credit Default Swaps

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the regulation of credit default swaps and similar instruments.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials hold various meetings and discussions with representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in January and February 2011.

Justine Greening: The Department aims to pay at least 80% of invoices within five working days, the monthly payment performance statistics for the Treasury Group can be found on the Treasury's website. Figures for February will be published in due course.
	Details of the link to the payment performance data is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/group_payment_performance.htm

Departmental Leaseback Arrangements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assets his Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease.

Justine Greening: The Treasury has not sold and leased back any assets in the past 12 months.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Justine Greening: HM Treasury manages its own deployment pool which facilitates the movement of staff across the Department. As of 3 March 2011, there were a total of 31 employees within the HM Treasury deployment pool, seven of which have been in the deployment pool for over six months.

Immigrants: Income

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many foreign-born  (a) millionaires and  (b) billionaires moved to the UK in each of the last 10 years.

David Gauke: There is no obligation for individuals to declare their level of wealth to HM Revenue and Customs. Therefore no data is available on the number of foreign-born individuals resident in the UK who can be described as a millionaire or a billionaire.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average it takes HM Revenue and Customs' National Insurance Contributions Office Special Section A to produce a schedule of employment history in industrial disease claims in response to  (a) urgent and  (b) non-urgent requests.

David Gauke: Requests for employment history schedules relating to customers suffering from mesothelioma are categorised as 'urgent'. HMRC's National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office (NIC&EO) issues schedules for these cases within 10 working days of receipt.
	All other requests for employment histories received by NIC&EO 'Special Section A' are routinely dealt with on a 'first in first out' basis. The current customer waiting time (oldest request waiting to be processed) is 89 days. However, NIC&EO management are looking to improve the provision of employment histories and will soon trial a revised process that is expected to improve response times for non-urgent requests.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests for schedules of employment history from HM Revenue and Customs' National Insurance Contributions Office Special Section A are outstanding in industrial disease claims.

David Gauke: HMRC's National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office (NIC&EO) has 18,400 requests on hand to be processed. Requests for employment histories have increased by 30% on this time last year, but NIC&EO has redeployed resources to respond to the increased demand.

Members: Correspondence

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North of 25 January 2011 on the future funding arrangements of the Northern Rock Foundation.

Mark Hoban: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Mortgages: Misrepresentation

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to assist individuals who have been mis-sold mortgage endowment policies to achieve legal redress for their losses.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires firms to explain the risks associated with investment products, such as mortgage endowment policies, when these products are sold.
	If individuals do not feel the risks were explained properly to them, in the first instance they should complain to the company through which they bought the product. This should be done as soon as possible after the individual decides they have cause for complaint.
	If the individual is not satisfied with the firm's response, they may consider referring the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The Government are unable to intervene in or advise on individual cases.

NHS: Redundancy Pay

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 38W, and to the answer of 10 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 428-30W, on NHS: redundancy pay 
	(1)  how many special severance payments were reported to his Department by each NHS Foundation Trust in accordance with his Department's guidance in Annex 4.13 of Managing Public Money in each of the last three years; and what the monetary value was of such payments in each case;
	(2)  what the total monetary value was of special severance payments made by NHS Foundation Trusts and reported to his Department in accordance with its guidance in Annex 4.13 of Managing Public Money in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many special severance payments have been reported to his Department in total by NHS Foundation Trusts in accordance with his Department's guidance in Annex 4.13 of Managing Public Money in each of the last three years.

Danny Alexander: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury's role is to ensure that individual special severance payments are fully justified in terms of value for money and legal risk. Total payments across the NHS are a matter for the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley).

Private Finance Initiative

Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the capital value was of private finance initiative agreements signed by the Government in each year from 1992 to 2010.

Danny Alexander: Lists of signed and in procurement private finance initiative (PFI) projects can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
	For each PFI project, this list details the project name, the capital value, the constituency, the procuring authority and whether it is on or off balance sheet, as used by the ONS in calculating public sector net debt.
	These data are currently being updated and revised data will be published at Budget 2011.
	The following table details the capital value of projects which reached financial close within the years requested.
	
		
			  Calendar year  Sum of capital value for projects reaching financial close (£ million)( 1) 
			 1992 485 
			 1993 0 
			 1994 0 
			 1995 68 
			 1996 1,064 
			 1997 1,909 
			 1998 2,413 
			 1999 2,519 
			 2000 3,562 
			 2001 2,248 
			 2002 (2)8,005 
			 2003 4,284 
			 2004 3,894 
			 2005 3,500 
			 2006 7,034 
			 2007 5,517 
			 2008 4,357 
			 2009 4,710 
			 2010(3) (3)615 
			 (1 )This summary table was produced using information gathered by HM Treasury during a data collection exercise in January and February 2010. This information is provided by the Departments that own/sponsor the projects, and is not audited by HM Treasury. These figures are for projects which were classified as PFI projects at Budget 2010. These figures do not include eight projects for which incomplete information was provided. (2) This figure includes over £5.5 billion for a Transport for London project. Although this was considered to be a PFI at financial close, subsequent changes mean that the Department for Transport no longer consider this to be a PFI. It is included here for consistency because this recategorisation occurred following Budget 2010. (3) Data for 2010 is incomplete and is currently being updated. This will be published around Budget 2011.

Tax Allowances: Married People

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on the introduction of transferable tax allowances for married couples.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain) on 9 June 2010,  Official Report, column 189W.

Taxation: Banks

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sanctions will apply if major banks do not comply with his Department's new code of practice on taxation.

Mark Hoban: As at the 17 October 2010, only four out of the top 15 banks had adopted the code since its introduction in 2009. All of the top 15 have now adopted the code.
	The Government expect banks to comply with the spirit as well as the letter of the law and not to engage in avoidance. Having adopted the code, banks are responsible for adhering to it.
	HM Revenue and Customs will monitor the effectiveness of the code as part of its large business strategy.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Stephen O'Brien: As at 4 March 2011, the Department for International Development (DFID) had 35 members of staff receiving redeployment support to mitigate the risk of redundancy. All 35 continue to be fully engaged in DFID work. Of these, eight have been receiving redeployment support for more than six months.

Developing Countries: Remittances

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the economic effects of remittances from the UK on developing countries receiving the largest amounts of such remittances.

Stephen O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Anas Sarwar) 12 January 2011,  Official Report, column 319W. Due to data quality issues we cannot identify flows of remittances from the UK to developing countries and therefore cannot isolate their specific economic impact.
	However, research by the DFID-funded Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty at the University of Sussex shows that remittances can boost growth in developing countries by financing investment, consumption and production growth. Remittances are a relatively stable source of foreign exchange earnings and provide support to the balance of payments. Findings from six years of research by the research centre are summarised in its report 'Making Migration Work for Development' (2010). Remittances can also contribute to poverty reduction. A joint study by DFID and the United Nations, 'Impact of Remittances on Poverty' (2009) found that a 10% rise in remittances reduced the poverty headcount ratio by 3.9% in developing countries where remittances account for more than 5.0% of gross domestic product.

Electoral Reform Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services Ltd in each year since 2005.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not contracted with the Electoral Reform International Services since 2007. Information for previous years cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

International Assistance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to achieve universal primary education;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the UK's contribution to progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to develop a global partnership for development;
	(5)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to ensure environmental sustainability;
	(6)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
	(7)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to help improve maternal health;
	(8)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality;
	(9)  what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal to promote gender equality and empower women.

Stephen O'Brien: An assessment of progress towards each of the Millennium Development Goals was published in the Department for International Development's (DFID's) Annual Report in July 2010. A further assessment of progress will be published in this year's Annual Report in line with the International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Act 2006.

International Assistance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to help ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are achieved.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for international Development (DFID) has conducted two thorough reviews of the UK's bilateral and multilateral aid programmes to determine how we can accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and achieve maximum value for money for the UK taxpayer. The outcomes of these reviews were presented to the House by the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend, on 1 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 167-169.
	In December 2010 DFID launched two new Frameworks for Results to tackle malaria and prevent deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. They set out how British aid money will deliver the coalition government's commitment to help halve malaria deaths in at least 10 high burden countries in Africa and Asia and save the lives of at least 50,000 women and 250,000 newborns. Full details are available on the DFID website.

International Assistance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on international aid and development.

Stephen O'Brien: Department for International Development (DFID) Ministers discuss international aid and development issues regularly with UN counterparts. The most recent discussion was with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, on 5 March 2011, and focused upon the situation in Libya.

Rwanda: Health Services

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the integration of maternal health services and tuberculosis services in Rwanda; and what mechanism his Department has put in place to share best practice on integration of such services.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not carried out an assessment specifically on the effectiveness of the integration of maternal health services and tuberculosis services in Rwanda. The performance of the health sector as a whole is regularly assessed jointly by the Government of Rwanda and donors-most recently at the Joint Health Sector Review of September 2010. The Government of Rwanda itself is very proactive in disseminating its best practice to other developing country governments and has, for example, recently done so with respect to results-based health financing and community health insurance.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has in respect of distribution of aid to Yemen in 2011-12.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) plans to focus its support on improving access to basic services, such as health, education and water; building the capacity of police and justice services to better understand and respond to the needs of Yemeni citizens; and. improving the business environment to create more wealth and jobs. Through our programme of support, we aim to help address the most immediate causes of poverty, conflict and instability, and to create a more favourable environment for a sustained improvement in Yemen's development and stability. However, we are keeping our programme plans under constant review in the light of current events within Yemen.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much  (a) direct aid and  (b) multilateral aid his Department plans to distribute to Yemen in 2011-12.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) will provide up to £65 million in bilateral aid to Yemen in financial year 2011-12. This is dependent on the Government of Yemen's commitment to reform. As with other bilateral country programmes, part of this money will be used to fund programmes run by multilateral agencies in country. It is not possible yet to say what share of DFID's core funding to multilateral agencies will be allocated to Yemen in 2011-12.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department plans to provide aid assistance to any additional projects in Yemen following the unrest in that country.

Stephen O'Brien: We are monitoring the situation in Yemen closely and will keep our programme plans, in respect of both development and humanitarian support, under regular review in light of current events within Yemen.

SCOTLAND

RAF Kinloss

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the handling of redundancies at RAF Kinloss when the base ceases operational activity at the end of May 2011.

Michael Moore: Details of the RAF redundancy process and the fields for Tranche 1 of those redundancies have been published; the first RAF personnel compulsory redundancies will not take effect until March 2012 for applicants and September 2012 for non-applicants, and will be drawn from across the RAF, not just Kinloss. I am in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues to contribute to the work currently ongoing to analyse implications for all Defence personnel in Scotland affected by the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in January and February 2011.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office paid 100% of its January and February 2011 invoices within 10 days of receipt.

Departmental Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for his Department that  (a) was on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid and  (b) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 to date.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has no in-house catering facilities and the provision of food is generally limited to catering associated with official hospitality and is supplied by external contractors. The Office does not separately record the purchase of seafood.

Electoral Reform Services Ltd

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services Ltd in each year since 2005.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not placed any contracts with the Electoral Reform Services in any year since 2005.

Military Assistance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of his Department's priorities in respect of  (a) military assistance to civil powers in Scotland and  (b) civil contingencies and emergency powers in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: Military assistance to the civil powers in the United Kingdom is regulated by common law and by statute and requires the authorisation of Defence Ministers. Emergency powers are a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998. Many aspects of the management of civil contingencies are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scotland Office works with other Government Departments, with the Scottish Government, and with other bodies as appropriate, to ensure that there is an appropriate response to any civil contingencies or emergencies in Scotland. For instance, during the period of inclement weather in December 2010, I worked with Defence Ministers to ensure that military assistance was provided to civil powers.

Military Assistance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Minister for Justice in the Scottish Executive to discuss  (a) military assistance to civil powers in Scotland and  (b) civil contingencies and emergency powers in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers and officials and other UK Government Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Ministers and their officials to ensure that the planning for and response to any civil contingencies in Scotland and across the UK is co-ordinated properly within the framework of the devolution settlement. Emergency powers are a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had in February 2011 with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the implementation of the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the future of Royal Air Force bases in Scotland.

Michael Moore: I met the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in February 2011 and discussed the Strategic Defence and Security Review and matters affecting Scotland.

Visits: Edinburgh

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the arrangements for his visit to Edinburgh on 8 June 2011.

David Mundell: I understand that the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), visited Edinburgh on 1 June 2010. The Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore) and I have had no recent discussions with him about that visit.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biomass

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 945W, on renewable energy: wood, what indicators he plans to use to ascertain the sustainability of woody biomass.

Gregory Barker: Our earlier answer of 20 January 2011 set out in brief the sustainability criteria we are introducing for the use of solid biomass, including woody biomass, to generate electricity under the renewables obligation (RO) from April this year.
	These criteria are a minimum greenhouse gas emissions saving of 60% compared to fossil fuel assessed across a lifecycle that considers the emissions associated with cultivation, processing and transport of the biomass, together with general restrictions on the use of materials from land important on carbon or biodiversity grounds. Such land includes primary forest, peatland and wetland.
	We are also continuing with the existing requirement for operators to report on a range of matters relating to the biomass used to the best of their knowledge and belief. These matters include the mass or volume of the biomass used, its type and form, the country of origin or purchase, and whether the biomass is an energy crop, by-product of a process or meets an environmental accreditation scheme. The same set of sustainability criteria will be applied to the use of UK and imported solid biomass, and to both new and existing plants. The sustainability criteria will not apply to solid biomass that is waste or wholly derived from waste.
	As set out in our earlier answer, we intend, following a transition phase where solid biomass plants over 50 kilowatts will be required to report on their performance against these criteria, that from April 2013 solid biomass electricity plants of one megawatt and above will be required to meet these criteria in order to receive support under the RO.

Biomass

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 945W, on renewable energy: wood, how the information yielded from sustainability criteria reports will be used to assess sustainability; and what assessment he has made of the likely contribution of such implementation to understanding biomass use;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 945W, on renewable energy: wood, what timetable he has set for the assessment of the sustainability criteria for  (a) wood and  (b) other solid biomass; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: We are introducing mandatory reporting on performance against the sustainability criteria under the renewables obligation (RO) from April this year for operators using wood and other solid biomass, above 50 kilowatts capacity. The first reports would be due to be supplied to Ofgem by 31 May 2012, to cover the biomass used by a plant operator between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012. These reports would include performance against the land criteria, an assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions saving relative to fossil fuel and information on the biomass used including mass or volume, country of origin, type arid form.
	These reports will enable Government, on an annual basis, to assess performance against the sustainability criteria for the use of wood and other solid biomass in electricity generation under the RO. We intend to formally link meeting the criteria with eligibility to receive RO support for operators of 1 megawatt capacity and above from April 2013.
	These reports will also provide Government with valuable information on the availability and source of biomass being used for large-scale electricity generation in the UK, the scope for growth of sustainable bio-electricity in the UK and the potential effects on our wood industries. In addition, we believe that the introduction of sustainability criteria that are linked to eligibility for financial support will provide a powerful driver for better understanding across the bioenergy supply-chain of the key levers, such as reducing the use of road transport, that can deliver improved emissions savings.
	Therefore, in the Government response to the consultation on the RO Order 2011, we announced DECC, Ofgem and the Environment Agency will jointly develop an easy to use lifecycle tool to assess the GHG emissions associated with bioenergy generation from the cultivation of the feedstock to processing and transport. We intend the tool will be made available online later this year.

Carbon Budgets

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he gave to the merits of including in the Energy Bill provisions for the introduction of local carbon budgets.

Gregory Barker: Local carbon budgets have been raised on a number of occasions as the Energy Bill passed through the House of Lords. As my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Marland) noted in the Energy Bill debate in the House of Lords, 2 March 2011,  Official Report,  House of Lords, columns 1067-1119, we have given full consideration to these issues and we have determined that the best way forward is co-operation, not by imposing top down carbon budgets on local authorities.
	In support of this cooperative approach, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) hopes to shortly sign a memorandum of understanding with the Local Government Group on how my department and local authorities will work together to reduce carbon emissions at a local level. This will be a voluntary approach, building on the Nottingham Declaration, but with scrutiny by the people local authorities serve.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in January and February 2011.

Gregory Barker: Whitehall Departments are no longer required to report on 10 days and instead are required to report on invoices paid within five days of being received. DECC has set itself a challenging target of paying 80% of invoices within five days irrespective of the size of the supplier. The results for January and February of 2011 were 88.7% and 93.9% respectively.

Energy Generation Infrastructure

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the relative costs of energy generation infrastructure and energy efficiency measures designed to reduce demand; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: An economic appraisal of the costs and benefits of an intervention, such as a policy to improve energy efficiency, is a mandatory part of impact assessments, and allows consideration of the relative merits of different policy options. This must be carried out in line with HM Treasury's Green Book and the supplementary guidance on the valuation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for appraisal and evaluation where policies have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
	Initial illustrative costs and potential energy demand reductions of the Green Deal energy efficiency policy are outlined in the Green Deal impact assessment accompanying the Energy Bill in December 2010
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
	This estimated the average annual finance costs of energy efficiency measures to be £1.4 billion to £2.1 billion. The annual energy saved as a result of these policies in 2020 is estimated to be:
	
		
			  GWh 
			   Low  High 
			 Electricity -1596.572058 -2416.833186 
			 Gas -16756.07948 -25286.44071 
			 Fuel oil -751.383933 -1134.51274 
		
	
	Levelised cost estimates from Mott Macdonald (2010) that give average generation cost per megawatt-hour for new build plants, in the main large-scale electricity generation technologies, in the UK at current engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract prices are set out in the following tables (it should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the table only gives either 'FOAK' (first-of-a-kind) prices or 'NOAK' (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology).
	
		
			  Case 1: 10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today ' s EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK 
			  £/MWh 
			  Levelised cost  Gas CCGT  Gas CCGT with CCS (FOAK)  ASC Coal  ASC Coal with CCS (FOAK)  Coal I GCC (FOAK)  Coal IGCC with CCS (FOAK)  Onshore wind  Offshore wind (FOAK)  Offshore wind R3 (FOAK)  Nuclear PWR (FOAK) 
			 Capital Costs 12.4 29.8 33.4 74.1 61.7 82.0 79.2 124.1 144.6 77.3 
			 Fixed operating costs 3.7 7.7 8.6 18.6 9.7 17.7 14.6 36.7 45.8 12.2 
			 Variable operating costs 2.3 3.6 2.2 4.7 3.4 4.6 - - - 2.1 
			 Fuel Costs 46.9 65.0 19.9 28.7 20.3 28.3 - - - 5.3 
			 Carbon Costs 15.1 2.1 40.3 6.5 39.6 5.5 - - - -- 
			 Decomm and waste fund - - - - - - - - - 2.1 
			 CO2 transport and storage - 4.3 - 9.6 - 9.5 - - - - 
			 Steam Revenue - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Total levelised cost 80.3 112.5 104.5 142.1 134.6 147.6 93.9 160.9 190.5 99.0 
			  Source: Mott Macdonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf 
		
	
	As new technologies are deployed it is likely that costs will fall due to learning. The second table, as follows, sets out the estimated levelised costs for projects started in 2017 with the assumption that all technologies have reached 'nth-of-a-kind' status.
	
		
			  Case 5: 10% discount rate, 2017 start at projected EPC prices, all NOAK 
			  £/MWh 
			  Levelised cost  Gas CCGT  Gas CCGT with CCS  ASC Coal  ASC Coal with CCS  Coal IGCC  Coal IGCC with CCS  Onshore wind  Offshore wind  Offshore wind R3  Nuclear PWR 
			 Capital Costs 11.2 20.7 28.7 47.8 33.7 46.5 71.7 89.4 97,0 49.6 
			 Fixed operating costs 3.7 6.0 8.6 13.8 8.0 12.3 - 23.0 30.9 9.1 
			 Variable operating costs 2.3 3.6 2.2 3.7 2.7 3.6 - - - 1.8 
			 Fuel Costs 49.8 64.7 19.9 27.6 19.6 27.2 - - - 5.2 
			 Carbon Costs 29.6 4.1 73.8 11.4 72.0 10.0 - - - - 
			 Decomm and waste fund - - - - - - - - - 2.1 
			 CO2 transport and storage - 3.5 - 7.6 - 7.5 - - - - 
			 Steam Revenue - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Total levelised cost 96.5 102.6 133.2 111.9 136.0 107.1 86.3 112.4 127.9 67.8 
			  Source: Mott Macdonald (2010, UK Electricity Generation Costs Update, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf 
		
	
	It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers. Meaning that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates.

Energy: Hastings

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in the Hastings Borough Council area did not have a mains supply of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas in the latest period for which figures are available.

Charles Hendry: Data on the number of households by local authority without an electricity or gas mains supply are not available.
	An estimate of the number of households off the gas grid at Government Office region can be derived using data from the English House Survey (EHS), produced by DCLG. In 2008, based on the EHS, there were around 467,000 households in the south-east that did not have a mains gas connection. The number of households without a mains electricity connection is too small to be reliably estimated from a sample survey such as the EHS.

Environment Protection

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department's definition of zero carbon applies to technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions by  (a) 50 per cent.,  (b) 60 per cent.,  (c) 70 per cent.,  (d) 80 per cent.,  (e) 90 per cent., and  (f) 100 per cent.

Grant Shapps: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have recently received a report from the independent Zero Carbon Hub on the levels of reductions in carbon emissions which can be achieved by technologies to be installed on or as part of a house as part of meeting the zero carbon standard. The Government are considering this report and we will set out our conclusions in due course.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The European Union emissions trading system continues to provide an effective means of reducing emissions from heavy industry across the EU. The cap set by the 2009 amending directive will reduce emissions from industry, covered by the scheme, by 21% (on 2005 levels) in 2020.

Nuclear Installations: Accidents

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) coolant leaks and  (b) fires have been recorded at each UK nuclear installation in each of the last five years.

Charles Hendry: The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE/NII) screens incident reports made by licensees to identify those which have had the potential to challenge a nuclear safety system. A search of the raw input data for such screening from January 2005 to the end of December 2010 has been undertaken for details of leaks and fires at nuclear installations.
	A 'coolant leak' has been interpreted as being a loss of coolant, including clean coolant, from an item of plant into the working environment of the licensed site. Coolant itself has been interpreted as being water, carbon dioxide or hydrogen on a power station, and water elsewhere.
	A 'fire' has been interpreted as being a situation where ignition of material has taken place on the licensed site or instances of smouldering where such ignition could not reasonably be ruled out given the information in the record.
	
		
			  Coolant leaks 
			  Date  Installation  Incident 
			  2005   
			 1 January Heysham 2 Steam leak on Turbine Generator 7 
			 5 February Hinkley Point B Carbon dioxide leak from tank 
			 19 February Hinkley Point B Carbon dioxide leak from tank 
			 25 February Torness Carbon dioxide leak through in-service inspection penetration 
			 15 March Torness Carbon dioxide leak from ring main 
			 25 June Dungeness A Carbon dioxide leak from main CO2 plant 
			 4 July Sellafield Damp patch discovered adjacent to B30 pond wall 
			 25 July Oldbury Steam leak through thermocouple pocket of Boiler 4 on Reactor 1 
			 4 August Hinkley Point B Carbon dioxide leak from vaporiser valve 
			 30 October Dungeness A Carbon dioxide leak through failed isolation valve to pressure gauge 
			
			  2006   
			 30 January Sellafield Leak of dosed cooling water from B832 cooling tower 
			 18 February Sellafield Leak of pond water through expansion joint above the stainless steel seal in B310 AGR storage pond 
			 24 March Hunterston B Carbon dioxide leak in pipe trench 
			 11 September Hinkley point B Carbon dioxide leak from supply pump 
			 23 September Hartlepool Alternator hydrogen coolant leak 
			 26 September Hartlepool Fracture of emergency cooling water main 
			 2 October Dungeness B Auxiliary cooling water pipe work leak 
			 15 October Sizewell A Steam leak from Turbine Alternator 1 
			 18 November Heysham 2 Steam leak from Reactor 7 
			
			  2007   
			 7 January Sizewell A Fracture of pond recirculating water system pipe work 
			 18 January Sellafield Waste Vitrification Plant electrical inductor cooling water leak 
			 1 March Hinkley Point B Carbon dioxide leak outside plant room 
			 26 March Dungeness B Carbon dioxide leak in reactor basement 
			 1 June Hunterston B Leak from condensate booster pump 
			 2 June Heysham 2 Leak in low pressure feed heater pipe work 
			 18 July Dungeness B Leak of tritiated water identified 
			 19 September Hartlepool Leak of pressure vessel cooling water identified on boiler closure unit 
			 26 September Dungeness B Carbon dioxide leak from storage tank 
			 28 September Hunterston B Steam leaks in high pressure gland pipe work 
			 27 October Oldbury Carbon dioxide leak from fuelling machine 
			
			  2008   
			 19 February Oldbury Carbon dioxide leak from storage tank 
			 20 February Torness Carbon dioxide leak from gas bypass plant 
			 26 June Heysham 2 Steam leak in gland steam drain line 
			 26 July Heysham 1 Carbon dioxide leak from storage tank 
			 7 October Wylfa Carbon dioxide leak from storage tank 
			 23 December Torness Carbon dioxide leak from valve in the fuel machine standby CO2 coolant supply. 
			
			  2009   
			 24 April Hartlepool Hydrogen leak from Unit 2 alternator frame 
			 26 May Heysham 1 Turbine cooling water leak 
			 28 May Hinkley Point B Pressure vessel cooling water leak from Reactor 4 sump 
			 25 June Heysham 2 Loss of Hydrogen from turbo alternator 
			 8 July Torness Leak from spent fuel pond cooling water system 
			 9 December Sellafield Fuel pond chiller water leakage 
			 21 December Heysham 1 Back up cooling water leak soon after start up 
			
			  2010   
			 22 January Sellafield Leakage of cooling water to active storage tanks 
			 7 June Dungeness B Gland steam leak after start up 
			 26 October Heysham 1 Small water leak from buffer store drain line 
			 8 November Heysham 1 Emergency cooling water pipe failure and leak 
		
	
	
		
			  Fire 
			  Date  Site  Incident 
			  2005   
			 4 February Heysham 1 Smouldering lagging on turbine 
			 8 March Heysham 2 Fire on reactor basement sump pump 
			 22 April Harwell Capacitor fire in building 459 
			 22 June Torness Variable frequency output transformer fire 
			 30 June Barrow Portacabin fire 
			 14 July Heysham 2 Fire in bearing of fuel handling plant extract fan 
			 16 September Torness Fire in purge air compressor no. 2 
			 31 October Dungeness A Fire in bulk group 4 LF power supply 
			
			  2006   
			 23 January Sellafield Smoking bitumen seal around pipe on Combined Heat and Power Plant turbine 
			 24 March Dounreay Hydrogen ignition during waste cutting operation in Prototype Fast Reactor 
			 21 April Springfields Uranium shredder fire in building 338 
			 23 October Heysham 2 Smouldering leak management tray beside hot turbine reheat pipe work 
			 23 December Burghfield Smouldering cable in plant room 
			
			  2007   
			 1 February Hinkley Point B Fire in bund of gas circulator lube system 
			 2 June Hunterston B Bearing fire on turbo generator 7 
			 12 August Heysham 2 Bearing fire in cooling water pump 
			
			  2008   
			 7 January Dounreay Fire in office suite of D1208 
			 13 March GE Healthcare Fire in inactive recycling plant 
			 15 June Rolls Royce Manufacturing Fire in glove box 
			 2 December Hartlepool Aerosol can fire 
			 3 December Trawsfynydd convector heater fire in ponds office 
			
			  2009   
			 12 March Heysham 1 Lagging smoke/fire 
			 15 March GE Healthcare Fire in services spine duct 
			 31 March Barrow Fire on the casing of Astute Boat 2 during welding/grinding operations 
			 18 April Barrow Fire on the bridge fin of Astute Boat I 
			 29 April Oldbury Smoking air circuit breaker 
			 18 May Wylfa Fire in Turbine alternator 
			 22 July Sellafield Extract fan bearing fire 
			 23November Dungeness B Boiler annex hydraulic fluid caught fire 
			
			  2010   
			 28 May Dounreay Small in cell fire of sodium residues 
			 2 July Sizewell B Fire in ductwork in heating and ventilation building 
			 4 July Aldermaston Solvent fire minor bums to one person 
			 2 August Oldbury Lagging fire near turbo alternator 
			 22 September Sizewell B Condensate pump fire 
			 30 September Wylfa Smouldering electrical contactor in Turbine Hall 
			 25 October Hinkley Point B Fire in circulator workshop 
			 8 December Heysham 2 Bearing failure causing smoke in services building

Power Stations: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he gave to the inclusion in the Energy Bill of provision for a power to make regulations to improve emissions performance standards for coal and gas-fired power stations.

Charles Hendry: The Government committed to an Emissions Performance Standard in the Coalition programme for government and is taking this forward as part of the wider package of reforms in the Electricity Market Reform project and consultation. The consultation has sought views on the proposed options for an EPS and the Government will publish its response in a White Paper later this year.

Single Key Low Carbon Investment Fund

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the Single Key Low Carbon Investment Fund will be spent on activity that was previously funded by the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.

Gregory Barker: The single key low carbon investment funding was made available in Budget 2009 for financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11. It did not duplicate the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund, but it has supported marine technology development, i.e. £22.5 million over the two years on the Marine Renewable Proving Fund.

Warm Front Scheme

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the average time taken to pay grants under the Warm Front scheme.

Gregory Barker: The Warm Front scheme installs insulation and heating measures for eligible applicants up to a grant maximum of £3,500 or £6,000 where oil central heating is recommended. The grant is not paid directly to the applicant. The average time taken to install measures under the scheme is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  2010-11( 1) 
			   Days 
			 Average waiting times for insulation installations recorded in working days 18 
			 Average waiting times for heating installations recorded in working days 40 
			 (1)Up to 31 January 2011

Wind Power: Manufacturing Industries

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce the first successful bidders for his Department's programme to support the establishment of offshore wind manufacturing at port sites.

Charles Hendry: The timing of any announcements will depend upon when decisions are made to award funding. The funding, which is available from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2015, requires an application to be made under the Grant for Business Investment scheme, which applies to assisted areas in England. Applications for support under this scheme are made on a confidential basis and the case is considered by the independent Industrial Development Advisory Board which will submit advice to DECC Ministers, who will make the decisions on funding.

Wind Power: Manufacturing Industries

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many for bids for his Department's programme to support the establishment of offshore wind manufacturing at port sites his Department has received from each region of England to date; and what the monetary value is of each.

Charles Hendry: Applications for funds to support the establishment of offshore wind manufacturing infrastructure at port sites in assisted areas in England must be made through the Grant for Business Investment scheme. Bids for support under this scheme are made on a confidential basis. Information on grant offers for sums greater than £75,000 is normally published following the payment of the first instalment of the grant, including the name and location of the recipient of the grant and the size of the grant offered.

HEALTH

Cancer Services: Women

Jane Ellison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services for women.

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services for women.

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve NHS cancer services for women.

Paul Burstow: Our cancer strategy sets out plans to improve cancer services for all, including women. We are extending and modernising breast and cervical screening and improving access to testing for ovarian cancer. NICE are developing quality standards on breast and ovarian cancer, and we will collect data on secondary breast cancer.

Local Democratic Accountability

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making in introducing local democratic accountability for NHS services.

Paul Burstow: We have heard from a huge number of councils and their partners who are pressing ahead with establishing shadow health and well-being boards. Councillors, clinicians, and local communities have told us that by working together through the boards they can and will improve health and care outcomes for local communities.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of blue light emergency cases arising in the London borough of Bexley which were taken to  (a) Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup,  (b) Queen Elizabeth hospital, Woolwich and  (c) Darent Valley hospital, Dartford in the last three years for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Ambulance trusts are asked to report on the total number of emergency patient journeys to Type one and Type two accident and emergency (A&E) destinations, this information is reported via the KA34 as part of the annual ambulance data collection.
	Type one A and E services are described as a consultant-led 24 hour service with full resuscitation facilities. Type two A and E services are a consultant-led single specialty accident and emergency service (e.g. ophthalmology, dental). However, the KA34 data collection will not provide a split in terms of which hospital patients were taken to.
	The KA34 data collection can be viewed on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/ambulance

Departmental Domestic Visits

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospitals  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department has visited since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The requested information is shown as follows:
	 Since May 2010, the Secretary of State for Health (Mr Lansley) has visited:
	Leeds General Infirmary
	Enfield Hospital
	Bridlington and District Hospital
	Scarborough District General Hospital
	Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
	Burnley General Hospital
	Alder Hey Children's Hospital
	The Royal Marsden Foundation Trust
	Milton Keynes Hospital Foundation
	Stafford Hospital
	Whiston Hospital, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	Fairfield Independent Hospital
	Liverpool Broadgreen University Hospital
	Royal Sussex Country Hospital
	Whitehaven and West Cumberland Hospital
	Bristol Hospital
	University College London Hospital
	Glenfield Hospital, Leicester
	Maidstone Hospital
	Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup
	Chelsea and Westminster
	Kings College Hospital
	Hillingdon Hospital
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital
	Guys and St Thomas's Hospital
	Sheffield Children's Hospital
	St Bartholomew's Hospital
	Colchester General Hospital
	 Since May 2010, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe) has visited:
	Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
	Barnet hospital, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
	Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
	 Since May 2010, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Anne Milton) has visited:
	University Hospital, Lewisham
	Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
	Royal Surrey County Hospital
	Royal London-Barts and the London NHS Trust
	William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
	King's College Hospital Foundation Trust
	Leatherhead Central Surrey Health Community Hospital
	 Since May 2010, the Minister of State (Paul Burstow) has visited:
	St Charles Hospital, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
	The Royal Marsden Hospital
	Northampton General Hospital
	Broadmoor Hospital West London Mental Health NHS Trust
	The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	The Royal Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Oldham Hospital
	University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
	 Since May 2010, the Minister of State (Mr Burns) has visited:
	Newark Hospital, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Great Ormond Street for Children NHS Trust
	Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Guy's and St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust
	Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
	Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
	Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
	Ministers may have visited hospital premises to attend particular events but these were not specified hospital visits and therefore have not been included in this answer.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Simon Burns: The information about the numbers of permanent departmental staff by grade who are displaced and in the redeployment pool as of 2 March 2011 is presented in the following table. The table also shows numbers who have been displaced and in the redeployment pool for over six months.
	These staff are also able to access posts from within the wider civil service and have priority access to advertised roles on the civil service website, which is dedicated solely for surplus staff who are permanent civil servants.
	
		
			  Grade  Total number of persons in the redeployment pool on 2 March 2011  Total number of displaced persons in the redeployment pool over six months 
			 SCS (1)- (1)- 
			 Grade 6 (1)- (1)- 
			 Grade 7 (1)- (1)- 
			 Senior Executive Officer (1)- (1)- 
			 Higher Executive Officer (1)- 0 
			 Executive Officer (1)- 0 
			 Administrative Officer 0 0 
			 Total 20 8 
			 (1) Five or less

Departmental Procurement

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to contract out any services from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: As part of its general aim to seek efficiency savings to release funding to front line services the Department is looking to achieve value for money in designing the delivery of its functions and operations. This includes reviewing options for outsourcing when evaluating best value.

Departmental Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations sponsored by his Department have been  (a) introduced and  (b) revoked since 24 November 2010.

Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Statutory instruments introduced before Parliament for the period 24 November 2010 to 2 March 2011 
			  SI title  Made  Laid  Coming into force  SI number  Comment 
			 The Health Service Branded Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information) Amendment Regulations 2010 18 November 2010 24 November 2010 1 January 2011 2010/2798  
			   
			 The Flavourings in Food (England) Regulations 2010 23 November 2010 26 November 2010 20 January 2011 2010/2817  
			   
			 The Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations 2010 24 November 2010 Laid in draft 26 July 2010 Final Publication 1 December 2010 1 January 2011 2010/2841 Statutory Instrument subject to the affirmative procedure Commons Debate 3 November 2010 Commons Approval 8 November 2010 Lords Debate and Approval 23 November 2010 
			   
			 The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment Order 16 December 2010 20 December 2010 17 January 2011 2010/2998  
			   
			 The Lewisham Hospital National Health Service Trust (Change of Name) Order 7 December 2010 Not required to be laid (Published 10 December 2010) 1 January 2011 2010/2918  
			   
			 The Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2011 13 January 2011 Not required to be laid (Published 18 January 2011) 1 February 2011 2011/57  
			   
			 The Official Feed and Food Controls (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 25 January 2011 28 January 2011 1 April 2011 2011/136  
			   
			 The Food (Jelly Mini-Cups) (Emergency Control) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2011 2 February 2011 8 February 2011 31 March 2011 2011/213  
			   
			 The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 5 February 2011 8 February 2011 1 March 2011 2011/231  
			   
			 The North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2011 5 February 2011 9 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/238  
			 The Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2011 7 February 2011 11 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/253  
			   
			 The Food Additives (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 7 February 2011 11 February 2011 31 March 2011 2011/258  
			   
			 The National Health Service (Quality Accounts) Amendment Regulations 2011 8 February 2011 11 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/269  
			   
			 The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2011 11 February 2011 17 February 2011 17 March 2011 2011/402  
			   
			 The Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2011 14 February 2011 17 February 2011 6 April 2011 2011/426  
			   
			 The National Health Service (Functions of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and Administration Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 23 February 2011 28 February 2011 1 April 2011 2011/503  
			   
			 The Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) Amendment Regulations 2011 24 February 2011 2 March 2011 1 April 2011 2011/520  
		
	
	
		
			  Statutory instruments revoked between 24 November 2010 and 2 March 2011 
			  SI revoked  By SI  Made  Laid  Coming into force  SI number 
			 The Health Service Branded Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information) Amendment Regulations 2009 (2009/3030) The Health Service Branded Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information) Amendment Regulations 2010 18 November 2010 24 November 2010 1 January 2011 2010/2798 
			   
			 The Flavourings in Food Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/1971) The Flavourings in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1486) The Flavourings in Food (England) Regulations 2010 23 November 2010 26 November 2010 20 January 2011 2010/2817 
			   
			 The Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Order 2001 (Articles 6 and 7 only) (SI 2001/1330) The Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2011 13 January 2011 Not required to be laid (published 18 January 2011) 1 February 2011 2011/57 
			   
			 The Food (Jelly Mini-Cups) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/3230) The Food (Jelly Mini-Cups) (Emergency Control) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2011 2 February 2011 8 February 2011 31 March 2011 2011/213 
			   
			 The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2801) The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2011 11 February 2011 17 February 2011 17 March 2011 2011/402

Disability Aids

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many crutches were provided by the NHS in each of the last two years in each primary care trust area; what the cost was of such provision in each such year for each such trust; and how many crutches were returned after use in each such year in each such trust area.

Paul Burstow: This information is not held centrally.

Electoral Reform Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services in each year since 2005.

Simon Burns: A search of the Department's central procurements database shows that the Department received goods and services from Electoral Reform Services Ltd on only one occasion since 2005. An amount of £150 excluding VAT was receipted in the financial year 2008-09.

Food Standards Agency

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what roles and responsibilities were carried out by the Food Standards Agency prior to 20 July 2010; and which are now carried out by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and  (c) the Food Standards Agency.

Anne Milton: On 20 July 2010, the Department announced plans to transfer some functions undertaken by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to either the Department of Health or to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
	Policy work for England on the following functions transferred on 1 October 2010 from the FSA to Department of Health:
	lead on nutritional labelling and related European Union negotiations;
	health claims, dietetic food and food supplements;
	out of home calorie labelling;
	reformulation to reduce salt, saturated fat and sugar levels in food and reducing portion size (including in catering);
	nutrition surveys and nutrition research; and
	scientific advice and secretariat to Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
	Policy work for England on the following functions transferred on 20 July 2010 from the FSA to DEFRA:
	food labelling, where this does not relate to food safety or nutrition;
	food composition standards and labelling, where unrelated to food safety; and
	leading on EU negotiations for all non-safety aspects of food labelling, except for nutrition.
	The FSA retains a clearly defined departmental function on its core remit of food safety. It also retains responsibility for nutrition and labelling policy in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

General Practitioners

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis was for his policy on limiting management expenditure for GP consortia; and what plans he has for the future frequency of reviews of the limit.

Simon Burns: Our view is that management is both an overhead on front-line services and a critical investment in ensuring that those services operate in an optimal manner, achieving better quality for patients and better value for the taxpayer. Administration costs have increased dramatically in recent years and cost controls will be essential in reducing the total cost of national health service administration from £5.1 billion in 2010-11 to £3.7 billion by 2014-15.
	The expectation is that general practitioner consortia will have an allowance for running costs that could be in the range of £25 to £35 per head of population by 2014-15. We will not determine the exact amount until further work has been undertaken with pathfinders. This work will explore the optimal balance between ensuring sufficient investment in organisational sustainability with maximising resources for front-line services. Before this, during their development phase, the running costs will be locally agreed within the running cost envelope for each region.

General Practitioners: Kent

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress he has made on the introduction of GP commissioning in  (a) Gravesham constituency and  (b) West Kent.

Simon Burns: Two groups within the national health service West Kent area have been awarded general practitioner consortia pathfinder status. The Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley pathfinder was announced as part of the first wave in December 2010 and the Maidstone and Malling pathfinder as part of the second wave in January 2011. These and all the pathfinders across the country are playing an increasing role in commissioning care for patients in their areas, and their learning will inform our future arrangements for commissioning.

Health: Disadvantaged

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of potential links between income inequality and  (a) life expectancy,  (b) infant mortality and  (c) obesity.

Anne Milton: The Department commissioned Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London to undertake a strategic review of health inequalities post 2010. His review report-"Fair Society, Healthy Lives" which reported in February 2010-explored the links between health and income inequalities and the health outcomes around life expectancy, infant mortality and obesity.
	The review noted that the relationship between income inequality and health outcomes is well established and differences in health outcomes are the result of wider social factors. Its assessment of the evidence showed that life expectancy across all groups has improved, but the gap between different social classes remains, rooted in disadvantage. Infant mortality rates are at an historic low level, but differences remain between occupational, social and ethnic groups. Obesity in adults has steadily increased in all social groups but there is a clear social gradient between more deprived and less deprived groups.
	The Government accept the analysis in the review and have adopted the Marmot review's life course approach across the social determinants of health in the "Healthy Lives, Healthy People" (Cm 7985) White Paper, which has stressed the need to improve the health of the poorest fastest. Future progress on these health outcomes will be monitored through the Public Health Outcomes Framework, currently out for consultation.
	A copy of the Public Health Outcomes Framework consultation document has already been placed in the Library.

Health: Disadvantaged

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of potential links between income inequality and health inequalities.

Anne Milton: The Department commissioned Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London to undertake a strategic review of health inequalities post 2010. His review report-"Fair Society, Healthy Lives" which reported in February 2010-explored the links between health inequalities and the social determinants of health, including income inequality.
	The review's assessment of the evidence shows that: the relationship between income inequality and health outcomes is well established; some groups are at a higher risk of having a low income, such as disabled adults and people with mental health problems; and, that income inequality is not just about material deprivation but about evidence of inequality in wider society.
	The Government accept the analysis in the review and recognise that reducing health inequalities is a matter of fairness and social justice. The Government have adopted the Marmot review's life course approach across the social determinants of health in the "Healthy Lives, Healthy People" (Cm 7985) White Paper which has stressed the need to improve the health of the poorest fastest.

Health: Equality

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce health inequalities.

Anne Milton: The White Paper, 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS', set out proposals for the establishment of an independent NHS Commissioning Board and a new NHS Outcomes Framework to help tackle health inequalities, promote equality, and act as a catalyst for driving up quality across all national health service services.
	The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 proposes introducing new legal duties for the Secretary of State, the NHS Commissioning Board and general practice commissioning consortia to have regard to addressing health inequalities.
	Action to tackle health inequalities is also at the centre of our approach to public health. The public health White Paper, 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People', emphasises the important role that Public Health England (the proposed new public health service) would have in tackling health inequalities. The public health budget would be ring-fenced and allocated to reflect relative population health needs, with a new "health premium" to promote action to reduce health inequalities.
	The public health White Paper also responds to the report of the independent review, chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, to explore the impact of the wider social determinants of health and advise on future action to reduce health inequalities in England. The White Paper adopts the review's life course framework, ensuring a focus for tackling the wider social determinants of health as part of a commitment to help people live longer, healthier, lives and improve the health of the poorest fastest.

Hospitals: Food

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that NHS hospital food meets the nutritional standards set by his Department for  (a) all patients and  (b) elderly patients; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: National health service organisations are responsible for compiling their own menus and making decisions about the food served to patients. In April 2010, nutritional care was made one of the key registration requirements for all organisations providing health care. As such, all hospitals are expected to adhere to the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) 'Essential standards of Quality and Safety'. This relates to all patients and there is no specific requirement regarding the elderly.
	Alongside the regulations, the CQC has produced a range of 'outcomes', which indicate that an organisation is likely to be meeting the relevant regulation. In terms of nutritional needs, the outcome guidance states that people who use services should be supported to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration.
	CQC assesses how trusts comply with these legal requirements and it has the power to impose a range of sanctions where breaches are found. At our request, CQC is also carrying out unannounced inspections led by experienced and senior nurses. We have asked CQC to publish a report on these inspections, which will depict the level of care being provided to older patients and the actions that hospitals can take to improve this care.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal advice he received prior to removing the duty of the NHS to enforce the statutory maximum 18 week waiting time between GP referral and treatment.

Simon Burns: No duty has been removed. The 'Revision to the Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2010/11', published on 21 June 2010, set out that the Department will no longer performance-manage the national health service against the 18 week maximum waiting times target.
	However, as the 'NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12' sets out, patients continue to have rights to access services within maximum waiting times under the NHS constitution and commissioners should ensure that performance does not deteriorate and where possible improves during 2011-12.

Human Papilloma Virus: Vaccination

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has ( a) commissioned and  (b) conducted into the effectiveness of introducing a dual purpose quadrivalent human papilloma virus vaccine against genital warts and cervical cancer.

Anne Milton: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) considered the cost-effectiveness of a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme against cervical cancer, which included assessment of the impact of vaccination on genital warts. A summary of the evidence considered is set out in the JCVI statement on HPV vaccines that is published at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@ab/documents/digitalasset/dh_094739.pdf
	A copy of the JCVI statement has already been placed in the Library. The cost-effectiveness study produced by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) used by the JCVI was published in the  British Medical Journal in July 2008:
	www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a769.full
	In 2010, the Department commissioned an update to the cost-effectiveness study. This study is taking into account new data on the potential protection provided by the HPV vaccines against cancer and non-cancer diseases, including genital warts. The study, which has not yet been published by the HPA, will support the next procurement exercise for the HPV immunisation programme in 2011.

Influenza: Deaths

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many deaths resulting from H1N1 influenza in the winters of  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 were (i) attributed to H1N1 alone and (ii) involved other underlying symptoms;
	(2)  how many deaths were attributed to  (a) seasonal and  (b) H1N1 influenza in each year since 2001.

Anne Milton: The number of deaths attributed to seasonal influenza in each year since 2001 is given in table 1. These data are available on the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website(1). To calculate this data, the HPA uses data on deaths collected by the Office for National Statistics to estimate the number of excess deaths during the flu (winter) season as a proxy for influenza related deaths, recognising that other factors (for example hypothermia) may also play a contributory role.
	(1)( )This table is available on HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/Influenza/1010EpidemiologicalreportofpandemicH1N12009inUK
	
		
			  Table 1: Excess deaths in winter 
			  Season  Excess  95% confidence interval  Total number of deaths/season  % deaths in excess 
			 2000-01 747 478 - 1,015 383,805 0.2 
			 2001-02 6,825 6,556 - 7,093 388,552 1.8 
			 2002-03 6,392 6,124 - 6,661 386,946 1.7 
			 2003-04 4,873 4,336 - 5,410 377,242 1.3 
			 2004-05 1,860 1,592 - 2,129 372,259 0.5 
			 2005-06 (1)- 0 - 0 361,910 0.0 
			 2006-07 (1)- 0 - 0 318,775 0.0 
			 2007-08 457 0 - 994 321,853 0.1 
			 2008-09 10,147 9,878 - 10,588 327,334 3.1 
			 Summer 2009 (1)- 0 - 13 170,231 0.0 
			 2009-10 3,261 2,993 - 3,530 315,931 1.0 
			 (1) No excess detected 
		
	
	In the United Kingdom, cases of the H1N1 "swine flu" have occurred from April 2009 to May 2010 (the swine flu pandemic period) and the period May 2010 onwards including winter 2010-11. Deaths associated with this virus during these periods are summarised in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2: Deaths associated with the H1N1 "swine flu" virus 
			  Time period  Deaths associated with swine flu virus  Reference 
			 Swine flu pandemic (April 2009 to May 2010) A total of 474 deaths with confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (either laboratory confirmed or with mention on the death certificate) were reported in the United Kingdom up to 15 April 2010 (359 in England, 69 in Scotland, 18 in Northern Ireland and 28 in Wales). Epidemiological report of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the UK: www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1284475321350 
			 May 2010 to 2011 (up to 23 February 2011) Further epidemiological information on cases is available on 499 of the 523 fatal laboratory confirmed influenza cases from across the UK reported to the HPA, including 400 cases from England. 461 (92%) of these 499 cases were associated with H1N1 (2009). HPA Weekly National Influenza Report Summary of UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory illnesses www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1296681716703 
		
	
	Two parallel systems for collecting information on individual fatal cases operated during the swine flu pandemic period, one by the chief medical officer's (CMO's) office and the other by the HPA. The reports from the two systems were reconciled. CMO's confidential inquiry involved reporting of confirmed fatal cases through the NHS. The HPA's system involved identification of deaths through reconciliation of data from a range of surveillance sources (e.g. influenza laboratory reports, death certificates, reports from local HPA teams).
	Since May 2010, the ascertainment of fatal influenza cases has been similar to the HPA approach used during the pandemic.
	The HPA have further information on 446 of the fatal cases due to the H1N1 "swine flu" virus. This further information shows that 316 of the 446 cases (71%) were in a CMO-defined clinical risk group.

National Blood Service

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) departmental officials have had on the future of the National Blood Service since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Ministers and officials discussed and agreed the recommendations for the future of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), of which the National Blood Service is part, as set out in the report of the arm's length bodies review (July 2010). The report has already been placed in the Library.
	It was agreed that NHSBT would stay within the arm's length body sector but that an in-depth review would be commissioned into opportunities to make it more commercially effective. Representatives from relevant Department policy teams, the Welsh Assembly Government and NHSBT are contributing to the review. The review, which is at an early stage, will not consider changes to any functions or services that could risk destabilising the current national donor system, particularly the interface with donors. Any possible options that are identified will be considered very carefully before a final decision is made by Ministers.

NHS: Private Sector

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of emergency treatment required by patients being treated in private hospitals in the last 24 months; and how much of this has been recouped by the NHS to date.

Simon Burns: The Department has neither an estimate nor relevant information. It would be the responsibility of local national health service bodies to seek to recoup any costs arising from patients' prior treatment in another setting.

Nutrition: Health Services

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what nutritional training primary care practitioners receive; and what role his Department plays in providing information in respect of best practice nutritional advice to primary care practitioners.

Anne Milton: The content of curriculum and quality and standard of training for health care professions is the responsibility of the appropriate professional regulatory body. However, the Department has supported the development of post-graduate training and a post-graduate Diploma in Paediatric Nutrition for medical practitioners, including general practitioners, which is currently being run by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Dieticians and nurses, in particular, receive nutritional training and are actively involved in setting and monitoring standards of nutritional care. Training in nutrition is delivered during both pre and post registration nursing education.
	It is also for local national health service organisations to devise their own nutrition policies and procedures to meet local needs. We have provided guidance nationally on food and drink through the Essence of Care benchmarking programme, together with information and guidance to Health Professionals on Maternal and Child Health, Healthy Start, the 5 A DAY Programme and the Obesity Care Pathway.

Obesity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the relative ranking of the UK in international comparator tables on levels of obesity.

Anne Milton: In 2010 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranked the United Kingdom the fourth in the world for obesity prevalence after the United States of America, Mexico, and New Zealand. Data on obesity prevalence can be found in OECD Health Data 2010, this information is available at:
	www.oecd.org/document/16/0,3746,en_2649_34631_2085200_1_1_1_1,00.html

Out of Area Treatment

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protocols govern the funding of out-of-area treatments for NHS patients.

Simon Burns: Under the current commissioning arrangements, "Who Pays? Establishing the Responsible Commissioner" sets out the principles for determining which primary care trust would be responsible for funding the treatment of patients. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	"Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" set out our proposals for transforming the quality of decision-making to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices supported by an independent NHS Commissioning Board. A copy has already been placed in the Library. We propose that GP Consortia will be the responsible commissioner for any patients registered with their constituent practices.

Patients

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of statutory rights for patients; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Government are upholding the NHS constitution, which sets out legal rights for patients, public and staff. Under the Health Act 2009, all providers and commissioners of national health service-funded services are required to have regard to the constitution in performing their functions; the current Health and Social Care Bill would extend this duty to the new NHS Commissioning Board and commissioning consortia.

Pregnant Women: Stress

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect of maternal stress levels during pregnancy on the mental health of (i) the foetus and (ii) the subsequent (A) infant and (B) adult.

Simon Burns: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is a non-departmental public body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The MRC supports a broad portfolio of research relating to maternal health and its impact on children including a number of research projects, which aim to investigate the effects of maternal stress in pregnancy. Further information can be found on the MRC's online research portfolio at:
	www.mrc.ac.uk/ResearchPortfolio/index.htm
	In addition, the MRC supports a number of population-based cohort studies that provide the infrastructure to enable important questions about the impact of maternal health to be addressed.

Social Services

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of local authorities which  (a) have changed their eligibility criteria for social care in 2010-11 and  (b) are planning to do so in 2011-12.

Paul Burstow: Councils are currently setting their budgets for 2011-12. The Government have committed an extra £530 million through the local government formula grant and £648 million in direct cash support from the national health service for social care, as well as £150 million for re-ablement. It is for councils to make decisions about eligibility and access to social care.

Tobacco

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the health effects on young people of second hand smoke in confined spaces; and whether his Department plans to take steps to protect children from exposure to second hand smoke in cars;
	(2)  what research his Department has  (a) evaluated and  (b) commissioned on the effects on tobacco smuggling of point of sale display bans; and when he plans to take a decision on the implementation of a tobacco display ban;
	(3)  with reference to the Public Health White Paper, what consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Inquiry on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tobacco control by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  whether his Department has made an assessment of the health effects of the use of smokeless tobacco products in the south Asian community; whether he plans to make provision in respect of such effects in the forthcoming tobacco control plan; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: We announced in the Public Health White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England", published on 30 November 2010, that we would be publishing a new Tobacco Control Plan. This will give details of how the Government will set about reducing the morbidity and mortality that result from smoking, niche tobacco use and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.
	Alongside the Tobacco Control Plan, we will publish a summary of the research evidence into the impact of smokefree legislation in England, including the health effects of secondhand smoke in confined spaces.
	The Tobacco Control Plan will be informed by all relevant available research evidence, including the health effects of secondhand tobacco smoke on young people, tobacco smuggling and use of smokeless tobacco products. It will also take into account the recommendations of the Inquiry on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tobacco control by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Careers Advice

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to provide independent and impartial careers guidance for pupils aged 13 to 16 years as part of his proposals for an all-age careers service.

Nick Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
	Through the Education Bill, schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent, impartial careers guidance for all pupils aged 13 to 16, and will be free to decide how to do so based on the needs of their pupils. This recognises the important role of schools in ensuring their pupils have access to appropriate support, working in partnership with expert careers advisers.

Citizens' Advice Bureaux and Law Centres: Closures

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) citizens advice bureaux and  (b) law centres likely to close in (i) Bolton, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) England as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has a wider interest in the network of local citizens advice bureaux (CAB), but funding is a matter for local authorities, not BIS. BIS has no locus over the future of law centres, on which the Ministry of Justice lead.
	The Government are aware that the local authority in Bolton has no anticipated plans to cut funding to Bolton CAB. As far as the rest of Greater Manchester is concerned a large number of local authorities have yet to finalise their budgets but both Bury and Tameside bureaux are not anticipating any cut in funding. Rochdale and Oldham local authorities are looking at moving to a commissioning process and bureaux in those areas will have the opportunity to bid for funding on that basis.
	The Government do not as yet have a full picture of funding of bureaux across England as many local authorities have yet to decide on budgets but BIS is working closely with Citizens Advice, the umbrella body, to assess the full impact.

Employment: EU Action

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Commission Communication on An Agenda for new skills and jobs: A European contribution towards full employment, COM(2010) 682 final; what estimate he has made of the cost to the UK of implementing each measure recommended in the Communication; and whether the implementation of any measure recommended in the Communication would involve a transfer of powers from the UK to the EU.

Edward Davey: The EU New Skills and Jobs agenda does not contain any specific legislative measures, but presents a work programme in the areas of skills and employment. Details of this are set out in the Explanatory Memorandum submitted on 16 December. The Government have made clear that national competence and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality must be respected. Should specific proposals emerge on skills and employment, we will work to ensure this is the case and that proposals are accompanied by a full impact assessment.

Financial Services: Low Incomes

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the financial services industry on improving access to work opportunities for people from low-income backgrounds; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts), meets regularly with representatives of the financial services industry and related professional bodies in a variety of forums, including the Graduate Employer's Forum and the Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum (which he chairs), encouraging them to take action to widen access to professional careers.
	Late last year, he met a representative of the New City Initiative, a group of companies in the independent asset management sector, to discuss their proposal to provide work placements for undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds. We welcome this proposal and my officials have been discussing with the New City Initiative ways of supporting it.
	And as part of the Growth Review, my officials have met a range of representatives from the professional and business services sector. The Government's commitment to driving social mobility has formed part of those discussions.

Fossil Fuels

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2011,  Official Report, column 981W, on fossil fuels, what definition of clean fossil fuel energy production his Department uses.

Edward Davey: The definition used by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is that 'dirty' fossil fuel power generation means unabated coal-fired power stations. It would therefore consider any other form of fossil fuel power generation to be clean.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 568W, on higher education: admissions, when he plans to provide further information about the National Scholarship Scheme.

David Willetts: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 568W. More detailed operational guidance to help institutions develop their own arrangements will be available shortly from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what recent reports he has received on incidents of Israeli students at universities in  (a) London and  (b) England being targeted by Islamic extremists; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent  (a) meetings he has had with and  (b) representations he has received from (i) the Israeli ambassador to Great Britain and (ii) the Government of Israel on (A) the security of Israeli students attending university in the United Kingdom, (B) anti-Semitism against Israeli students on campus and (C) the targeting of Israeli students by Islamic extremists; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: I have received no reports of incidents of Israeli students attending universities in London, or more widely in England, being targeted by Islamic extremists. I have also had no formal representations from, or held meetings with, the Israeli Government or Israeli ambassador to Great Britain about these issues.
	However, the broader issue of the treatment of Jewish students was one of a number of subjects I discussed with Alon Roth-Snir, the deputy ambassador of Israel to the UK, at a recent dinner engagement on UK-Israel trade relations. I have also discussed this matter, the experiences of Jewish students in the UK, at a meeting held last October with John Mann MP, the Community Security Trust, the Union of Jewish Students, Universities UK and the Equality Challenge Unit.
	There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and has supported institutions with key guidance on promoting good campus relations in the sector.

Higher Education: Business

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage partnerships between universities and businesses; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Government have a range of measures to encourage partnerships between universities and businesses including: encouraging universities through Research Council's Pathways to Impact; HEFCE's Research Excellence Framework and Higher Education Innovation Funding; and ongoing collaboration between the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board. The Research Councils will also work closely with the TSB providing support for the science that will underpin the Technology Innovation Centres.

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Office for Budget Responsibility on the effects on economic forecasts of average university tuition fee levels exceeding £7,500; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 7 March 2011
	For their November Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office of Budget Responsibility scrutinised and certified the estimates for loan outlay provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This involved discussion at official level about the key assumptions behind loan outlay, including the level of average fees charged; the loan take-up rate; and the growth in overall student numbers.

Higher Education: Finance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department holds information on the provenance of major donations to universities in England; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Department does not hold information on the provenance of major donations to universities in England.
	Universities are autonomous institutions. As a charity, a university will set its own standards for the acceptance of donations subject to guidance from the Charity Commission.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely change in the level of income from overseas students for each  (a) university and  (b) further education college as a result of changes to immigration rules in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
	A consultation on the student immigration system closed on 31 January. The consultation sought the views of all respondents on the effect of the proposals. The impact assessment and results of the consultation will be published in due course.

Institute for Learning

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Institute for Learning shares information with his Department on the take-up of continuing professional development by staff employed in further education.

John Hayes: The Institute for Learning (IfL) provides this Department with information about the take-up of continuing professional development (CPD) by further education staff teaching staff. IfL published an annual a review of CPD; the latest one covering 2009-10 is now available.

Intellectual Property: Reform

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with organisations on the reform of intellectual property law in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: holding answer 7 March 2011
	Ministers and officials within the Department have regular and frequent discussions with a large number of organisations seeking changes, both major and minor, to intellectual property law.

Internet: Regulation

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will discuss with the Office of Fair Trading its policy on search neutrality on the internet.

Edward Davey: Competition authorities' responsibilities are about protecting competition and consumer interests with regard to the provision and use of internet search facilities. As a result of a number of complaints, the European Commission announced on 30 November 2010, that it had initiated three separate antitrust investigations into competing vertical search service providers covering the whole of the EU. These investigations are a matter solely for the European Commission. The Commission's announcements can be found at the following link:
	http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_result

Job Creation: North West

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had on job creation and apprenticeships in the North West; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: holding answer 2 March 2011
	I recently met colleges and employers in the North West. I discussed apprenticeships among other subjects when I visited the region earlier this year.
	The primary objective of the Apprenticeships Programme is skills training rather than job creation, but many employers do use apprenticeships as a recruitment tool.
	Employers in the North West region offer more apprenticeship places than any other English region. Over 47,000 people started an apprenticeship in the North West in 2009/10, an increase of over 10,000 places compared with 2008/09.
	As a result of activity during apprenticeships week, which took place in February, the North West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network now has 33 members. The network, which is managed by the National Apprenticeship Service is an elite team of business leaders who act as advocates for apprenticeships in the region.
	There were also a number of announcements about activity in the North West during apprenticeships week. For example, Jaguar Land Rover announced a new World Class Manufacturing Programme to take on 1,500 apprentices in their Halewood plant on Merseyside.

Neurology

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Biological Sciences Research Council gave to neuroscience research in each of the last five years; and how much it plans to give in each of the next five years.

David Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the leading funding agency for academic research in the non-clinical life sciences in the UK. BBSRC is a non-departmental public body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The total annual spend for BBSRC research relevant to neuroscience for the past five years is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  BBSRC funding for research relevant to neuroscience( 1) 
			   Total annual spend (£ million) 
			 2005/06 28.3 
			 2006/07 31.8 
			 2007/08 35.2 
			 2008/09 39.5 
			 2009/10 40.4 
			 (1) Includes funding through the following mechanisms: Responsive Mode, Initiatives, Fellowships to HEIs and BBSRC Institutes and Core Strategic Funding to BBSRC institutes. 
		
	
	BBSRC does not have fixed allocations for neuroscience funding. Future funding of neuroscience research by BBSRC is dependent on the quality and strategic relevance of grant applications. Funding will be allocated over the next four years in relation to relevance to BBSRC's strategic priorities and BBSRC's four-year spending review settlement. As currently only a small part of neuroscience is within BBSRC's strategic priorities, it is likely that there will be a reduction in BBSRC funding over the next spending review period for neuroscience research that is outside our strategic priorities. An estimate, not an allocation, which is all that is possible at this stage until BBSRC has received applications for funding and dependent on their relevance and quality, is that this might amount to a reduction of £4 million/year, i.e. total neuroscience funding might run at approximately £36 million/year.

Older Workers: Termination of Employment

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess recent trends in termination of employment of  (a) employees in the public sector and  (b) employees in the private sector over the age of 65 prior to the removal of the default retirement age.

Edward Davey: Overall redundancies have varied over the past 15 years and are higher in recessions. The level of total redundancies ranges from 91,000 in the final quarter of 2008 to 39,000 in the last quarter of 2010.
	For the over-65s, redundancies are not a major feature for either the public or private sectors. In the labour force survey, the number of redundancies in any one year is always below a weighted count of 10,000, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) conventional threshold for statistical publication.
	In general, employment of older workers has increased by more than the national average in recent years. The ONS has recently provided a report on this at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=2648

Part-time Education: Student Numbers

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to regulate the number of part-time students; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Government only seek to control student numbers in order to manage overall public spending. We are currently considering future systems to manage student support costs under the new arrangements. A decision on the most appropriate type of cost control, including in respect of part-time students, will be considered in consultation following the forthcoming Higher Education White Paper.

Regional Development Agencies

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to abolish regional development agencies sooner than currently planned.

Mark Prisk: Final closure is subject to parliamentary consideration of the Public Bodies Bill, and associated secondary legislation. Subject to these considerations we expect the regional development agencies to be closed by March 2012 or as soon as is practical after this.

Regional Growth Fund

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget is for the Regional Growth Fund for Yorkshire for  (a) 2011-12 and  (b) 2012-13.

Mark Prisk: The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £1.4 billion fund that will operate for three years from 2011 to 2014. The RGF is a challenge fund and not ring-fenced or pre-allocated to any area although the fund will operate in England only.

Students: Finance

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many undergraduate students resident in  (a) Suffolk,  (b) the East of England and  (c) England have declared themselves bankrupt in each year since 1997.

David Willetts: The number of undergraduate students who have declared themselves bankrupt is not held centrally.
	The following table shows the number of students in England who have student loans and who have notified the Student Loans Company (SLC) of their bankruptcy while studying. However, the table does not include students who have not applied for student finance and students who have student loans but who have not notified the SLC that they are bankrupt. Student loans have been excluded from a borrower's bankruptcy debts since 2004.
	
		
			  Students who have notified SLC of bankruptcy while studying 
			 Financial year Students(1) 
			 1997-98 5 
			 1998-99 10 
			 1999-00 10 
			 2000-01 5 
			 2001-02 15 
			 2002-03 20 
			 2003-04 70 
			 2004-05(2) 65 
			 2005-06(2) 35 
			 2006-07(2) 25 
			 2007-08(2) 20 
			 2008-09(2) 10 
			 (1) English domiciled students with student loans who have notified SLC of their bankruptcy while studying. Figures may include postgraduate ITT students. As the table covers bankruptcies notified to SLC, figures could change slightly in future If further bankruptcies are notified, especially for the most recent years. Figures rounded to the nearest 5. (2) Since 2004 student loans are no longer written-off due to bankruptcy. From that time the number of students notifying the SLC of their bankruptcy has declined.  Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Figures for Suffolk and the East of England cannot be supplied as they are so small as to potentially identify individuals.

Students: Finance

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he gave to introducing bursaries rather than tuition fee remission for students from low-income backgrounds attending university under the National Scholarship Scheme.

David Willetts: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 568W.

Vinyl Acetate

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will discuss with his EU counterparts provisional measures to prevent the dumping of imports of vinyl acetate originating from the US;
	(2)  whether his Department plans to request to be heard by the European Commission investigation services as part of the investigation into imports of vinyl acetate originating from the US;
	(3)  what plans he has to contribute to the European Commission's investigation into the alleged dumping of vinyl acetate from the US;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received on the alleged dumping of vinyl acetate from the US into the European market; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  whether he has made an assessment of the effects on British industry of alleged dumping of vinyl acetate from the US in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The European Commission investigation into alleged dumping of imports of vinyl acetate from the US is at an early stage having been initiated on 4 December 2010. We are satisfied that there was a prima facie case of alleged dumping requiring the European Commission to initiate the investigation. The Government judges each anti-dumping case on its own merits based on an economic analysis of the results of the Commission's investigation and representations received from relevant interests (e.g. producers, users and others). To date one meeting has been held with INEOS Oxide Ltd, a UK producer and the complainant in this case. As in all anti-dumping cases we will discuss this case with the Commission and other member states as appropriate. The Commission will in any event consult all member states through the Anti-Dumping Committee before any measures are taken.

EDUCATION

Boarding Schools

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provides to education providers in the state boarding school sector; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 November 2010
	The Government support state boarding schools in England and want to see the sector continue to thrive. All state boarding schools receive enhanced levels of capital formula funding based on the number of boarding pupils they have.
	There are currently three academies developing boarding provision which are all due to open in September 2011. These are:
	Harefield Academy in Hillingdon, London-50 boarders
	Priory LSST Academy in Lincolnshire-60 (post 16) boarders
	Wellington Academy in Wiltshire-100 boarders
	There are 34 state boarding schools in England (31 are maintained schools, one is an academy and two are Sixth Forms).

Children in Care

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many looked after children in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) type of placement were absent for more that 24 hours from their agreed placement in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 14 February 2011
	 Information on the number of looked after children in each local authority area who were absent for more than 24 hours from their agreed placement in each of the last three years is shown in the following table.
	Information on the number of looked after children by type of placement who were absent for more than 24 hours from their agreed placement in each of the last three years can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Children looked after during the year ending 31 March who were missing from their agreed placement( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ) Years ending: 31 March 2008 to 2010 .  Coverage: England 
			  Number 
			   2008  2009  2010 
			  England 1,100 1,000 920 
			  North East 20 20 10 
			 Darlington x x x 
			 Durham 0 0 0 
			 Gateshead 0 0 x 
			 Hartlepool 0 0 0 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 x 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 0 0 x 
			 North Tyneside x 0 0 
			 Northumberland x 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0 0 0 
			 South Tyneside 0 x 0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 0 0 0 
			 Sunderland 15 15 10 
			 
			  North West 130 120 120 
			 Blackburn with Darwen x 0 x 
			 Blackpool 0 0 0 
			 Bolton 30 30 30 
			 Bury x x x 
			 Cheshire(6) 0 0 n/a 
			 Cheshire East(6) n/a 0 x 
			 Cheshire West and Chester(6) n/a 0 x 
			 Cumbria x 0 x 
			 Halton x 0 x 
			 Knowsley 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire x x 0 
			 Liverpool 15 15 15 
			 Manchester 10 5 x 
			 Oldham 5 x x 
			 Rochdale 0 0 0 
			 Salford x 0 x 
			 Sefton 5 10 15 
			 St Helens 0 0 0 
			 Stockport 15 10 20 
			 Tameside 10 10 0 
			 Trafford 15 10 x 
			 Warrington 5 5 x 
			 Wigan x 5 x 
			 Wirral x x x 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 70 80 70 
			 Barnsley x x 0 
			 Bradford 10 5 10 
			 Calderdale 0 0 x 
			 Don caster x 5 x 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire x x 0 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 0 0 0 
			 Kirklees 0 0 0 
			 Leeds 15 15 20 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 5 x 
			 North Lincolnshire x x 0 
			 North Yorkshire x x 0 
			 Rotherham 25 20 10 
			 Sheffield 5 x 10 
			 Wakefield x 5 5 
			 York 0 10 x 
			 
			  East Midlands 20 30 20 
			 Derby x x x 
			 Derbyshire x x x 
			 Leicester x 5 x 
			 Leicestershire x x x 
			 Lincolnshire x x x 
			 Northamptonshire x 10 10 
			 Nottingham x 5 5 
			 Nottinghamshire x x 0 
			 Rutland 0 0 0 
			 
			  West Midlands 130 120 100 
			 Birmingham 10 10 20 
			 Coventry 10 10 5 
			 Dudley 10 x x 
			 Herefordshire x 0 0 
			 Sandwell 0 0 x 
			 Shropshire 0 x 0 
			 Solihull 15 15 10 
			 Staffordshire 15 15 x 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 30 20 20 
			 Telford and Wrekin x x x 
			 Walsall 20 15 10 
			 Warwickshire 10 10 10 
			 Wolverhampton 10 5 x 
			 Worcestershire x x 15 
			 
			  East of England 70 80 60 
			 Bedfordshire(6) 0 n/a n/a 
			 Bedford Borough(6) n/a 0 0 
			 Central Bedfordshire(6) n/a 0 x 
			 Cambridgeshire x x 0 
			 Essex 35 40 15 
			 Hertfordshire 10 25 35 
			 Luton 10 5 x 
			 Norfolk x x 0 
			 Peterborough x x x 
			 Southend-on-Sea 5 x x 
			 Suffolk 0 x x 
			 Thurrock x x x 
			 
			  London 380 330 300 
			 Inner London 150 130 100 
			 Camden x x x 
			 City of London x 0 0 
			 Hackney x x 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham x x 0 
			 Haringey 20 30 30 
			 Islington x 5 x 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 25 20 15 
			 Lambeth 25 25 20 
			 Lewisham x x 5 
			 Newham 20 15 5 
			 Southwark 10 10 10 
			 Tower Hamlets 5 x x 
			 Wandsworth 5 x x 
			 Westminster 20 10 x 
			 
			  Outer London 240 200 200 
			 Barking and Dagenham 25 20 15 
			 Barnet 10 x x 
			 Bexley 5 x x 
			 Brent 35 30 20 
			 Bromley 0 15 15 
			 Croydon 10 x 25 
			 Ealing x 5 x 
			 Enfield 15 10 15 
			 Greenwich 10 10 20 
			 Harrow x 10 10 
			 Havering 10 x 10 
			 Hillingdon 55 35 25 
			 Hounslow 10 15 20 
			 Kingston Upon Thames x x 0 
			 Merton 5 5 x 
			 Redbridge 10 10 x 
			 Richmond Upon Thames x x 0 
			 Sutton 15 5 10 
			 Waltham Forest 10 5 x 
			 
			  South East 180 160 140 
			 Bracknell Forest x x x 
			 Brighton and Hove x x 10 
			 Buckinghamshire x x x 
			 East Sussex x 0 0 
			 Hampshire 50 45 45 
			 Isle of Wight x x x 
			 Kent 25 10 x 
			 Medway Towns x x x 
			 Milton Keynes 10 x x 
			 Oxfordshire x 5 x 
			 Portsmouth x x x 
			 Reading 0 0 0 
			 Slough 0 10 X 
			 Southampton 35 25 15 
			 Surrey 40 45 40 
			 West Berkshire 0 x 0 
			 West Sussex x x 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 x 5 
			 Wokingham x x 0 
			 
			  South West 80 90 90 
			 Bath and North East Somerset x x x 
			 Bournemouth x x 0 
			 Bristol, City of x 10 10 
			 Cornwall 20 25 20 
			 Devon 15 x 15 
			 Dorset x x 0 
			 Gloucestershire x x x 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 
			 North Somerset 5 10 15 
			 Plymouth 15 10 15 
			 Poole x x x 
			 Somerset x 0 0 
			 South Gloucestershire 0 0 0 
			 Swindon x 0 0 
			 Torbay 10 10 5 
			 Wiltshire x x x 
			 x = Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. n/a = Not available (1) England totals have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000, and to the nearest 10 otherwise. Regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. Other numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Children who were missing on more than one occasion during the year have been counted once. (5) Includes looked after children who were missing from care for a period of more than 24 hours. (6) In 2009, Cheshire local authority split into Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. Similarly, Bedfordshire LA split into Bedford borough and Central Bedfordshire.  Source: SSDA903

Children in Care

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average cost was of looking after a child in care in the last year for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 28 February 2011
	Returns from local authorities indicate that their expenditure on looked after children in 2009-10 was some £2,888 million. This supported around 80,000 children who were in care for some or all of that year. This would equate to an average expenditure of £36,000 per child. However the cost will vary considerably between individual children.

Children: Day Care

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with representatives of playgroups and other providers of early years care on their ability to provide 15 hours free care for the statutory amount they are paid; if he will assess the merits of enabling them to charge top-up fees from parents to cover additional costs; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 14 September 2010
	Good quality early education helps tackle disadvantage and improve children's life chances. We announced in the spending review that funding has been protected so that all three and four-year-olds will continue to receive 15 hours per week of free nursery education, delivered more flexibly, and that this will be extended to every disadvantaged two-year-old from 2013.
	Fairness is at the heart of the Government's agenda. Local authorities have a statutory duty-under section 7 of the Childcare Act-to secure nursery places free of charge, effectively prohibiting top-up fees. This ensures that there are no barriers to accessing the benefits of nursery education for all children, but particularly the most disadvantaged. Parents are free to purchase additional hours and services outside of the hours for which providers receive funding from local authorities.
	Many providers up and down the country are offering an excellent service to parents and their children within existing funding levels. The Government are listening to the views of early years providers and their representative bodies concerning funding issues. The Government are seeking to improve the efficiency with which funding is distributed to providers, through the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) reforms, as well as reducing bureaucratic burdens on providers who deliver free nursery education. Many providers will also be benefiting from other support that local authorities provide for early learning and care. Providers will want to take into account this whole package of support before deciding whether delivering free places fits with their business model.

Children: Separated People

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has held with the  (a) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and  (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential effects on levels of child poverty of the rules concerning eligibility to child and other benefits for separated parents with joint custody arrangements.

Sarah Teather: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend, has frequent discussions with Ministers about all aspects of his portfolio.

Children: Solvents

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many individuals aged under 18 years old were treated for the effects of solvent abuse in each of the last five years.

Sarah Teather: The number of young people aged under 18 who accessed specialist support, primarily for solvent misuse, in each of the past five years is as follows:
	2005-06: 210
	2006-07: 301
	2007-08: 305
	2008-09: 284
	2009-10: 274.
	In each year this represented 1% of the total number of young people under 18 accessing specialist services for substance misuse.
	 Source
	Substance Misuse Amongst Young People 2009 - 10, National Treatment Agency.

Children's Centres: Disadvantaged

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable families living in areas not identified as disadvantaged have access to a children's centre.

Sarah Teather: Sure Start children's centres are at the heart of the Government's vision for early intervention.
	The Government have included enough funding within the early intervention grant to maintain the national network of children's centres and local authorities have a statutory duty to consult before opening, closing or significantly changing children's centres and to secure sufficient centre provision to meet local need so far as is reasonably practical. We have provided important new investment in 4,200 additional health visitors who will play a key role in supporting those families most in need.

Children's Centres: Teachers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of Sure Start centres which will no longer employ both a qualified teacher and a staff member with early years professional status following the phasing out of this requirement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 16 December 2010
	The Department for Education does not collect this data. Decisions on staffing in Sure Start Children's Centres are a matter for local discretion.
	We have removed the overly prescriptive requirement for all Sure Start Children's Centres in the most disadvantaged areas to provide full day care. We have also removed the associated requirement that this provision be delivered by both a Qualified Teacher (QT) and an Early Years Professional (EYP), so that children's centres may chose to employ just one of a QT or an EYP.
	In the past, children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas were required to provide full day care, i.e. 10 hours a day, five days a week, for 48 weeks a year. However, the National Audit Office Memorandum for the Children, Schools and Families Committee, December 2009, suggested that in some areas, when demand for full day care is low, money intended for other Sure Start services-like family support and outreach to vulnerable families-is subsidising the provision of early education and care.
	We expect children's centres to continue to play a critical role in early education and care, including providing and encouraging take-up of free nursery education for two, three, and four-year-olds and additional hours where there is demand. Furthermore, we know the quality of early education is a key driver of good outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children. So, where children's centres offer early education, it is crucial that this is of high quality.
	The Government remain committed to investing in the quality of the early education and child care workforce, and will develop proposals to support this later this year. The recent local authority and school funding settlement provides for the ongoing support and development of the workforce. Continued national investment in the early years workforce includes the funding of places on the Early Years Professional Status programme and the New Leaders in Early Years programme which began in November.

College of Social Work

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated to the Social Care Institute for Excellence since the announcement of the College of Social Work; and how much funding he has allocated to the Social Care Institute for Excellence for each of the next five years.

Tim Loughton: The Social Care Institute for Excellence has been asked to facilitate the establishment of the College of Social Work, providing administrative support and expertise in a developmental phase of two years. The Department of Health has made £2.5 million available for this work. The Department of Education has committed to match this funding and officials are in discussions as to the appropriate time to make funds available to meet the emerging business development plan.

Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Children Review

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will ensure that the Bailey review on the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood considers the role of the family.

Sarah Teather: Reg Bailey's review is independent of Government. However, the terms of reference for the review make clear that Mr Bailey's recommendations should be informed by the views of parents. Mr Bailey has also been asked to examine how the pressures on children to grow up too quickly also create barriers to parents exercising their responsibility in raising their children.

Curriculum: Religion

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the place of religious education in the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: Religious education RE is a statutory part of the basic curriculum of maintained schools in England, but not a part of the national curriculum. This means that there are no statutory national programmes of study, attainment targets or assessment arrangements. However, the locally agreed syllabus, which is designed by standing advisory councils on religious education (SACRE) and adopted by the local authority, is statutory, and that means that local authorities must provide such a syllabus and that maintained schools must follow it. Schools with a religious character can either follow the locally agreed syllabus, or use a syllabus which has been agreed by their governing body. It is the responsibility of the head teacher, governors and local authorities (LAs) to make the necessary provisions for RE in all maintained schools.
	The Government do not intend to make any changes to the statutory basis for RE.

Departmental Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what single tender contracts his Department has awarded since his appointment; and what the monetary value is of each contract above the EU public procurement threshold.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not maintain a central record of all single tenders and a complete answer could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, from the information we do hold centrally, I can provide the following list of single tenders:
	
		
			  Single tenders below the OJEU threshold 
			  Contractor  Description of contract 
			 Dame Clare Tickell Independent Chair of the Early Years Foundation Stage Review 
			 Wiggins LLP Teachers TV Legal Advice 
			 Sean Feeney Project Director of the Capital Review 
			 Dr John Dunford Independent Review of the Office of the Children's Commissioner 
			 Professor Alison Wolf Review of Vocation Education 
			 General Social Care Council Social Work Reform Programme-Rationalising Standards and Practice Learning Review 
			 Dr David Lane Consultancy Support to the Munro Review 
			 Capgemini Manage, Operate and Facilitate a Major Event for the Department's Education Standards and Infrastructure and Funding Directorates, and external Partners 
			 Lewis Live Free Schools Conference 
			 PWC Review of finance and procurement end to end processes (Pro bono) 
			 Owen Education Education Advisers for Free Schools and Academies 
			 Personal Development Point Ltd National Citizen Service-independent evaluator 
			 Cap Gemini Transfer system on to supported systems register 
		
	
	
		
			  Single tenders over the EU threshold 
			  Contractor  Description of contract  Value (£) 
			 Professor Dylan Wiliam, Professor Andrew Pollard and Professor Mary James National Curriculum Review: Appointment of an Expert Panel 175,000 
			 PA Consulting Strategic Partnering service to provide client side programme delivery capability for the ContactPoint and eCAF Projects 1,896,000 
			 WS Atkins Strategic Partnering service to provide client side programme delivery capability for ContactPoint and eCAF Projects. In addition a service-based requirement to co-ordinate implementation across the regions 394,416 
			 UCAS A-level helpline 100,000 
			 MITIE Technical Facilities Management 839,455 
			 NPS and Atkins Technical advice for Academies 1 million 
			 Cap Gemini Schools Data Collect System (code upgrade) 250,000 
			 Cap Gemini National Pupil Database 384,000 
			 Cap Gemini Annual upgrade to Children Looked After (CLA) system 179,974 
			 Cap Gemini Information Work Place (IWP). Development and preparation for potential G-Cloud Service 708,870 
			 Cap Gemini Children in Need (collect development and testing) 148,000 
			 Cap Gemini Annual Census Collection (collect Schools Work Force) 230,000 
			 Cap Gemini Information Work Place (IWP-support) 350,000 
			 Cap Gemini Further development E channels external web content for education sector 696,000 
			 Cap Gemini Annual Census Collection 202,845 
			 RM Data Solutions National Pupil Database Achievement and Attainment Tables 8.3 million

Education

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  with reference to page 22 of his Department's Business Plan 2011-2015, what his policy is on the publication of information on readiness to progress to next stage of schooling by  (a) school,  (b) local authority and  (c) nationally for children aged five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has made an assessment of the effects of publication of information on readiness to progress to next stage of schooling by  (a) school,  (b) local authority and  (c) nationally for children aged five years on levels of mental stress of (i) children, (ii) school staff and (iii) parents.

Tim Loughton: Although the draft transparency section of the Department for Education draft business plan published in November suggested that achievements of children at the end of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) might be published at school level in addition to data already published on children's attainment at the end of the primary school phase, this is not our intention. The final version of the business plan will contain definitions of our impact indicators and the data we will publish to increase transparency. Information about children's achievement at age five has been published at local authority and national level since 2003 and our plan is to continue to publish the information in this way.
	The Department has not undertaken research on the impact of publication of this information on levels of mental stress.

Education: Assessments

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average number of separate  (a) AS,  (b) A2 and  (c) A level examination or other evaluation sittings taken per student by the end of year 13 in maintained schools and sixth form colleges in academic year (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2009-10;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average number of separate GCSE examinations or other evaluation sittings taken per student by the end of school year 11 in academic year  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2009-10;
	(3)  what the average number of public examination entries per student was in maintained schools and sixth form colleges in school year  (a) 10,  (b) 11,  (c) 12 and  (d) 13 in academic year (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held centrally. The Department does not hold information on individual examinations or modules sat by pupils towards achieving qualifications. Only the grade awarded for the overall qualification is collected from awarding organisations for use in constructing measures of achievement in the school and college performance tables.
	We believe there is a clear danger that modularisation and re-sits are undermining confidence in the grades awarded in key examinations and are undermining in-depth study. We have asked the qualifications regulator Ofqual to look at the impact of recent changes to A-levels and whether further action is needed to ensure that re-sitting does not become widespread and undermine confidence in the exams. We have also asked the regulator to advise on how to bring an end to modular GCSEs and return to a system where students are examined on everything they have learnt at the end of their course.

Education: Music

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the trends in the teaching of musical instruments in schools and the effect of such trends on the playing of musical instruments by children.

Tim Loughton: In 2007 the Department for Children Schools and Families published a report, 'Local Authority Music Services Provision (2007) for Key Stage 1 and 2' which collected data relating to the implementation of an initiative which aimed to widen opportunities for pupils to learn a musical instrument. The study revealed that 73% of responding local authorities in England had introduced whole class instrumental tuition. The percentage of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 schools receiving regular instrumental or vocal tuition was 71%.
	In its 2009 report "Making More of Music, An evaluation of Music in schools 2005/08", Ofsted reported that the best instrumental/vocal programmes were making a real difference to pupils' musical education, but not all the programmes were of sufficient duration or quality to have a lasting impact.
	The Secretary of State for Education asked Darren Henley to carry out a review of music education in September 2010. The Henley Review, together with the Government's response, was published on 7 February 2011. It announces funding for music services of £82.5 million in 2011-12 and the publication of a national plan for music education.

Education: Reform

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information schools will no longer be required to collect after the implementation of his proposed education reforms.

Nick Gibb: The Government are determined to reduce the data collection burden imposed on schools. To ensure that bureaucracy is kept to a minimum and that the value outweighs the burden, the central collection of information from schools is kept under constant review. Some collections have ceased in recent months and more are likely to do so as the result of a root and branch review of all the Department's data collections from schools. For example, we have already ended the Making Good Progress collection, the School and Local Authority Target Setting (SaLTs) collection and the Contact Module in the School Census. These changes are just the start of an ongoing programme of work and our intention is to reduce burdens further. We will ensure that any collections that remain reflect Government priorities and White Paper commitments.

Educational Visits

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulatory requirements apply to teachers wishing to take their class on a visit out of school.

Nick Gibb: Teachers wishing to take their class out of school on an educational visit are subject to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. There are no further national regulations specific to such visits, though employers (local authorities for community, voluntary-controlled and community special schools; governing bodies or trusts for other schools) can have local rules and guidance, which their schools must adhere to. In accordance with the recommendations in the Government's report, "Common Sense Common Safety" (October 2010), the Department for Education is working with the Health and Safety Executive to help schools comply with their duty of care in a sensible and proportionate way. This includes developing succinct guidance on all aspects of health and safety in schools including for educational visits. We are also supporting the Health and Safety Executive to develop a code of practice for off-site adventure activities (to take the place of validation by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority).

English Baccalaureate: Crafts

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) Firing Up and  (b) organisations seeking to introduce craft skills to schools in developing his proposals for the English Baccalaureate.

Nick Gibb: Neither I nor the Secretary of State for Education have had discussions with Firing Up or any organisations seeking to introduce craft skills to schools in developing proposals for the English Baccalaureate.

English Baccalaureate: Religion

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the effect on teaching of religious education of not including it in the definition of the English Baccalaureate for the purposes of school performance tables.

Nick Gibb: While religious studies GCSE will not count towards the English Baccalaureate the teaching of religious education remains compulsory throughout a pupil's schooling. However we will continue to monitor the teaching of religious education as we do at present through the School Workforce Census, which will collect information annually on the subjects being taught by all teachers in maintained secondary schools, through trends in GCSE entry, and through Ofsted's triennial subject survey report of religious education which will look at the quality of teaching.

Extracurricular Activities: Impact Assessments

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether an impact assessment was made of the decision of the Training Development Agency to discontinue its support to local authorities in respect of the extended services programme.

Nick Gibb: The Training and Development Agency's remit from the Department was to support all schools to become extended service schools by September 2010. It was a time-limited programme with a clear end point. No separate decision to end the support which would have required an impact assessment to be completed was made.

Free Schools

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many communications officials of his Department were working of free schools in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 February 2011
	 The Department's communications directorate is not structured to dedicate full-time individuals or teams on any one policy. Their model for delivery is to work across a broad range of projects in parallel when required. A number of communications officials have therefore been engaged in free schools' policy at different stages.

Free Schools

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of the 35 proposals for free schools are in the 35 most deprived areas.

Nick Gibb: As at 9 February 2011, there are 40 proposals approved to business case and plan stage. Of these, 10 are in the 35 most deprived local authority areas.

GCE A-level

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils achieved three or more A grades at A level in each local education authority in England in each year between 2003 and 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information available has been placed in the House Libraries.

GCE A-level

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the relative academic merits of A Level qualifications in different subjects for the purposes of gaining admission to universities; and what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on this subject.

David Willetts: holding answer 3 March 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	Higher education institutions are independent and autonomous organisations. Decisions about admission, including the importance and requirement of different A-Levels for different courses, are a matter for individual universities, and not for Government.
	We have welcomed the publication of information by the Russell Group on the value of different A-Levels contained in its new guidance on post-16 study choices 'Informed Choices' published, in collaboration with the Institute of Careers Guidance, on 4 February 2011.

GCE AS-level

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future participation of sixth form students in AS level examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government set out in the White Paper "The Importance of Teaching" their commitment to restore A levels to their place as rigorous, highly respected qualifications.
	The Government believe there is a danger that modularisation and multiple re-sits are undermining confidence in grades awarded in key exams and undermining in-depth study. We have asked the independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, to examine the impact of recent changes to A levels and consider how we can ensure that the number of re-sits is minimised. We will also consider whether linear A levels should be available to test the depth of students' understanding.

GCSE

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of GCSE students in each local authority area attained a C grade or above in  (a) mathematics,  (b) English and  (c) mathematics and English in each year from 1990 to 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The requested information from 1994 to 2009 has been placed in the House Libraries. Information from 1990 to 1993 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North of 10 December 2010 on the English Baccalaureate.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	Following discussion, the hon. Member has clarified that the letter referred to in her question was not sent to the Secretary of State for Education on 10 December, but on 2 December. A reply to this letter was issued on 8 February and the hon. Member has confirmed she has received this. I apologise for the delay in the response.

Office of the Schools Adjudicator: Complaints

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many complaints the Office of the Schools Adjudicator received relating to the Admissions Code for secondary schools for  (a) Academies and  (b) other secondary schools in each of the last three years; and how many (i) schools and (ii) year 7 pupils there were in each category in each year;
	(2)  how many complaints were received by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator relating to the application of the admissions code for secondary schools in respect of  (a) Church of England schools,  (b) Catholic schools,  (c) other faith schools and  (d) other secondary schools in each of the last three years; and how many (i) schools and (ii) year 7 pupils there were in each such category of school in each year.

Nick Gibb: Objections in respect of Academies are dealt with by the Young Persons Learning Agency, with advice from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator which the YPLA is required to follow unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of State for Education. As signalled in the White Paper-The Importance of Teaching-we intend to change this so that the Office of the Schools Adjudicator will review specific complaints about admission arrangements for all schools including Academies and Free Schools.
	Between 1 April and 31 December 2010 the YPLA dealt with one complaint about the admission arrangements of Academies. Information is not available prior to this point.
	The following table gives the number of objections received broken down by type of school for each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Complaints received by OSA re application of the admissions code 
			   CofE  RC  Other faith  Other secondary schools 
			 2010 6 9 2 241 
			 2009 6 11 5 83 
			 2008 14 18 8 85 
		
	
	The number of objections do not directly relate to the number of schools in an area as it is possible for prescribed person to object to the admission arrangements in an entire local authority area. There were 58 such objections in 2010, 16 in 2009 and 26 in 2008.
	The following tables provide the number of schools and pupils.
	
		
			  Number of state-funded secondary schools( 1,2)  by religious character and the number of pupils in national curriculum year group 7 attending those schools, in January each year-England 
			   Secondary schools( 1,2)  Year 7 pupils( 3) 
			   Church of England  Catholic  Other Faith( 4)  Other (no religious character)  Church of England  Catholic  Other Faith( 4)  Other (no religious character) 
			 2008 202 337 65 2,779 29,290 54,830 8,640 459,570 
			 2009 205 334 71 2,751 30,620 55,280 10,320 466,590 
			 2010 207 331 78 2,717 30,350 54,010 11,740 453,630 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Excludes dually registered pupils. (4) Includes schools of mixed denomination or other Christian beliefs.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census and Edubase 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of academies and secondary schools and the number of pupils in national curriculum year group 7 attending those schools, in January each year-England 
			   Secondary schools  Year 7 pupils( 1) 
			   Academies  Other secondary schools( 2,3)  Academies  Other secondary schools( 2,3) 
			 2008 83 3,300 14,050 538,270 
			 2009 133 3,228 22,240 540,570 
			 2010 203 3,130 33,550 516,180 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils. (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3) Includes city technology colleges.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Pen Green Children and Families Research Centre

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what  (a) representations he has received and  (b) discussions he has had on the funding of Pen Green Children and Families Research Centre.

Sarah Teather: I have received a number of representations from pen green centre for children and their families and from those involved with the centre about funding. The Government have ensured there is enough money in the system to maintain the network of Sure Start children's centres, however, it is for local authorities, in consultation with local communities to determine the most effective way of delivering future services to meet local need. They have a duty to consult before opening, closing or significantly changing children's centres and to secure sufficient centre provision to meet local need so far as is reasonably practical.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 572W, on health education, for what reasons the review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education is to be an internal review; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	 The review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education is described as "internal" to reflect that it will be led by the Department and not an external body or panel. Further decisions relating to the process and timescale for the internal PSHE review have not yet been taken. The Department for Education is currently considering options and further information will be available in due course.

Pre-school Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the level of funding to be allocated to early years education for children from disadvantaged families in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: The Government's recent funding announcements reflect our commitment to ensuring all children, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to high quality early education. The spending review confirmed that all three and four-year-olds will continue to receive 15 hours of free early education per week, delivered more flexibly. Funding for free early education places for three and four-year-olds is provided through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which supports the majority of education provision for children aged three to 16. Local authorities, in consultation with their Schools Forum, decide how best to distribute funding across their locality, and local authorities set their own local rates of funding to early years providers. No national funding allocation figure is available.
	The spending review statement also included a commitment to extending the entitlement to free early education to all disadvantaged two-year-olds from 2013. The investment over the next four years will be: £64 million in 2011-12; £233 million in 2012-13; £331 million in 2013-14; and, £380 million in 2014-15. For the first two years of the spending review period, this funding will be provided to local authorities through the Early Intervention Grant.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which of his Department's budgets funding for the expansion of free early years provision to 3 and 4 year olds will be drawn.

Sarah Teather: The Government extended free early education to three and four-year-olds, from 12.5 hours to 15 hours a week, from September 2010, and pledged through the spending review to protect this free provision. The extension has been funded in the current financial year through the Standards Fund. From April 2011, funding will be provided through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which supports the majority of education provision for children aged three to 16.

Primary Education: Teachers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to use the expansion of Teach First to primary school level to increase the proportion of teachers who are male.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 25 January 2011
	The expansion of Teach First in Primary is not to increase the number of male teachers in primary schools. In selecting the best possible candidates, Teach First is concerned with the quality of applicants and their suitability for the programme.

Progress Project

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding was allocated to the Progress project administered by the Children's Workforce Development Council in each region in 2010-11.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 15 February 2011
	A total of £2,122,750 has been allocated to the regions under the Progress project as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Region  Project administration  Training delivery  Accreditation bursaries 
			 East 32,750 200,000 4,000 
			 East Midlands 32,750 200,000 2,000 
			 London 32,750 200,000 4,000 
			 North East 32,750 200,000 1,000 
			 North West 32,750 200,000 4,000 
			 South East 32,750 200,000 2,000 
			 South West 32,750 200,000 3,000 
			 West Midlands 32,750 200,000 5,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 32,750 200,000 3,000 
			 Totals 294,750 1,800,000 28,000

Progress Project

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will continue to fund the Progress project administered by the Children's Workforce Development Council in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 15 February 2011
	The Progress project is part of a three-year programme of development for the young people's work force which is coming to a natural end in March 2011. It has succeeded making a significant contribution to the environment and infrastructure for the work force to develop and work together effectively. It is now for the sector and employers to build upon the outcomes of the programme and to manage their development in order to best meet local needs.

Pupil Exclusions

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to provide school appeal panels with the power to insist that a school reinstates a suspended pupil.

Nick Gibb: As set out in the Education Bill introduced on 26 January 2011, we are proposing changes to the exclusion system. The Bill will reform the unduly adversarial process which can sometimes follow when a head teacher must, as a last resort, exclude a pupil. It will establish independent review panels to replace the current independent appeal panels.
	A review panel will be able to direct a school's governing body to reconsider a permanent exclusion decision but it will not be able to direct the governors to reinstate the pupil. Review panels will have the power to impose a financial penalty in circumstances where a school whose decision was quashed by the panel reconsidered the exclusion but still decided not to reinstate the pupil.

Pupil Exclusions

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department has made on its plans to improve discipline in schools by providing alternative provisions in special units for excluded pupils.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 March 2011
	The current Education Bill includes provisions to encourage more private and voluntary sector involvement in alternative provision by creating the opportunity for them to establish free schools that deliver alternative provision more effectively and economically. The Bill also includes provisions for pupil referral units (PRUs), to apply for academy status.
	The Education Bill also includes provisions which empower teachers and heads to enforce discipline, and for heads' decisions to exclude not to be overturned.

Pupil Exclusions

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to run boot camp-style pilot schemes for excluded pupils in (a) England and  (b) Merseyside.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 March 2011
	The Department has no plans to run boot camp style pilot schemes for excluded pupils in either Merseyside or anywhere else. We will however, be making £1.5 million grant to the charity SkillForce to run three programmes aimed at using the skills and experience of ex-service personnel to help young people either excluded or at risk of exclusion.
	The three programmes to run from September 2011 will:
	Expand the core SkillForce programme working with disadvantaged pupils struggling with their behaviour and/or academic achievement;
	Run a Zero Exclusion pilot of intensive support to 100 pupils at risk of exclusion;
	Train 100 ex-service personnel to work as mentors for young people in and out of schools across England.
	SkillForce deliver inspiring programmes that increase the number of young people entering further education, employment and training on leaving school. It helps young people earn vocational qualifications, and develop life skills through appropriate and structured classroom and outdoor activities.

Pupil Exclusions

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to seek tenders from  (a) businesses and  (b) existing providers to run special units and alternative provision for excluded pupils.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 March 2011
	The current Education Bill includes provisions to encourage more private and voluntary sector involvement in alternative provision by creating the opportunity for them to establish free schools.
	The Department has already received a number of applications from organisations who wish to establish free schools specifically for those pupils who are excluded from mainstream school or are at risk of exclusion and we are working with these organisations to establish suitable criteria for this type of provision. Once these criteria have been agreed we will invite more applications from both new and established organisations, subject to parliamentary approval of the Education Bill.

Pupils: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children under the age of 11 years received support in schools as a result of a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: Information on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is not available.
	A table showing the number of pupils with statements of special educational needs or at School Action Plus whose primary need has been identified as behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) is provided. Pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as their primary need are included in the BESD category.
	
		
			  Maintained primary( 1) , state-funded secondary( 1, 2)  and special( 3)  schools: number and percentage of pupils( 4)  whose primary type of need is BESD( 5) , under the age of 11( 6) , as at January each year, England 
			   Maintained Primary( 1)  Stale-funded Secondary( 1, 2)  Special( 3) 
			   Number of BESD pupils  Percentage of pupils with BESD( 7)  Number of BESD pupils  Percentage of pupils with BESD( 7)  Number of BESD pupils  Percentage of pupils with BESD( 7) 
			 2006 54,910 18.5 940 22.1 2,790 9.1 
			 2007 55,840 18.5 930 21.6 2,780 9.2 
			 2008 57,930 18.6 900 21.1 2,880 9.5 
			 2009 56,760 18.5 930 21.0 2,820 9.4 
			 2010 60,850 18.5 1,140 21.4 2,840 9.4 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) Excludes dually registered pupils. (5) Pupils at School Action Plus and those pupils with a statement of SEN provided information on their primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need. Information on primary need only is given here. (6) Age as at 31 August of the previous year. (7) Number of pupils with BESD as their primary need expressed as a percentage of all pupils at School Action Plus or with a statement of SEN in the same school type.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School census.

Reading

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resources his Department has provided to encourage reading of books by pre-school children.

Sarah Teather: The Government recognise the importance of reading and language development in the early years. The Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS) framework requires providers (unless exempt) who care for children from birth to five to support and extend their reading, writing and communication skills. By the end of the EYFS, children are expected to link sounds to letters, name and sound the letters of the alphabet and read independently a range of familiar and common words and simple sentences.
	All three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours per week of free early education. We also announced in the spending review that this will also be extended, subject to legislation, to every disadvantaged two-year-old. This investment will ensure that all young children-particularly the most disadvantaged-reap the benefits of early education in terms of their cognitive and social development, readiness for school and later educational attainment.
	Early learning also takes place within the family. Since 2004 my Department has funded the Booktrust.

School Capital Funding

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the selection criteria were for the position of Chair of the review of school capital funding.

Nick Gibb: The chair of the capital review was selected for the depth and range of his experience and expertise relevant to the terms of reference for the review as follows.
	Sebastian James has a great deal of experience in driving out inefficiency and maximising value for money in the retail sector, making him a good choice to chair the capital review. He is currently the Group Operations Director of DSG International plc leading both the Retail and Services teams, as well as being responsible for the supply chain. Previously, as Group Development Director, Sebastian managed the Currys store building and transformation programme. In both roles he has been responsible for significantly improving quality and customer experience while reducing costs by over 25%. As Strategy Director for Mothercare plc Sebastian had responsibility for developing and implementing the turnaround strategy at Mothercare plc. He was also involved, as operating partner, in the foundation of eGS, a leading e-Government procurement platform.
	 Terms of reference for the review of capital
	 Purpose
	1. To review, in the context of the Government's fiscal consolidation plans and emerging policy, the Department's existing capital expenditure and make recommendations on the future delivery models for capital investment for 2011-12 onwards.
	2. The overall aim of the review is to ensure that future capital investment represents good value for money and strongly supports the Government's ambitions to reduce the deficit, raise standards and tackle disadvantage.
	 Scope
	3. The review will consider how all DfE capital expenditure within any spending constraint and PFI policy could be distributed more effectively over the next spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15).
	The review will be broken down into four main strands:
	 Allocation of capital funds
	To evaluate the extent to which value for money has been achieved in capital expenditure to date;
	to consider how to generate sufficient places to allow new providers to enter the state school system in response to parental demand;
	to review current methods of allocating capital (for example, by formula to local authorities);
	to consider options for reflecting Government policies on carbon reduction; and
	to enable the establishment of new schools.
	 Distribution of capital investment
	To assess the scope and make recommendations for how to distribute capital more efficiently and less expensively, including simplification of procurement, and increased use of standard and modular design;
	to develop a clear understanding of current approach, waste and issues associated;
	to consider the relationship between schools, local government and central Government;
	to increase choice locally determined by parental demand;
	to review the current procurement/delivery models, including:
	the use of frameworks to deliver capital (currently used for academies and a third of BSF projects); and
	the BSF Investments (BSFI) investment vehicle
	to review the roles of bodies involved, specifically DfE, Partnerships for Schools (PfS), local authorities, the local education partnerships (LEPs) and National Framework; and
	to provide recommendations for central structure required to manage the distribution of capital investment.

School Meals

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that every child receives a balanced and healthy school lunch.

Sarah Teather: It is absolutely vital that schools continue to serve healthy food and make sure their pupils are eating well. That is why we have committed to retain the school food standards and continue to fund the School Food Trust to provide support and advice to schools on the standards and on improving their school meals services.
	In 2011-12, the School Lunch Grant is being rolled into the Dedicated Schools Grant to enable the continued provision of healthy lunches, which will also support the increase of school lunch take up.
	Decisions about taking a school lunch are ultimately for families to make, taking the costs and benefits into account.

Schools: Discipline

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers are available to head teachers in respect of controlling the behaviour of pupils on their way to and from school.

Nick Gibb: Under section 89 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, schools can discipline their pupils for bad behaviour that occurs on their journey to and from school and any bad behaviour that happens off the school premises if it is reported to them.

Schools: Holocaust Memorial Day

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps the Government took to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2011 in schools and colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us of the lessons of the holocaust and the consequences of allowing prejudice to grow. The Department funds the Holocaust Educational Trust's Lessons from Auschwitz project, which provides for two students (aged 16-18) from every school/sixth form college in England to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. Many of the students who participate on the project will have marked Holocaust Memorial Day in their schools and local communities across the country.

Schools: Laboratories

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of health and safety requirements in school laboratories in England; and what information his Department holds on the safety record of such laboratories in the North East.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not assess health and safety requirements in individual school laboratories or collect data on regional safety records. Advice about the law relating to risk management, and about the good practice that assists compliance, may be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive, whose website, at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm
	carries guidance issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Such advice can also be obtained from CLEAPSS (a subscription-based source of expertise in science safety) at:
	http://www.cleapss.org.uk/
	Data about safety records may be available from the local authorities within a region since local authorities, as employers, are ultimately responsible for health and safety in their schools.

Schools: Vetting

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether school caretakers will be subject to vetting under the Government's proposed new arrangements for child protection.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 2 March 2011
	Yes, under the Government's proposed new arrangements for the vetting and barring scheme (VBS) school caretakers will still fall within the new definition of 'regulated activity', and will have to be vetted.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to improve schools careers advice in North Swindon constituency.

Nick Gibb: We intend to restore a focus on specialist expertise in careers guidance for young people and adults based on the core principles of independence and professionalism. Schools will take responsibility for securing access to independent and impartial careers guidance. They will have freedom to fulfil this requirement in ways that best suit the needs of their students.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has plans to collect and publish data on pupil achievement by type of disability.

Sarah Teather: The 2011 School Census enabled schools in England to provide information on the disability of children on a voluntary basis. This is in addition to the mandatory provision of information by primary type of SEN. Future collection and publication arrangements for data on disability will be considered in the light of data and feedback collected in response to January 2011 School Census returns which will become available in the spring.
	Similarly, a decision on whether to publish information on pupil achievement by type of disability will be made following analysis of the completeness of data received through the School Census.

Special Educational Needs

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to provide funding for the post of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Co-ordinator beyond March 2011.

Sarah Teather: We are taking decisions about funding for activities to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including those relating to augmentative and alternative communication, in the context of our Green Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to be published shortly.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of deaf pupils who are not recorded as having a special educational need.

Sarah Teather: It is not possible for the Department to reliably estimate the number of deaf pupils who are not recorded as having a special educational need.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to require local authorities to collect data on the  (a) achievement and  (b) attainment of deaf children.

Sarah Teather: The Department does not require local authorities to provide specific information on deaf children.
	The Special Educational Needs Information Act (2008) requires the annual publication of information about children in England with special educational needs. The information published includes local authority data on outcomes for these children by SEN type, including hearing impairment, at key stages 2 and 4 in English, maths and science.
	The Schools White Paper "The Importance of Teaching" set out our intention to publish easy to understand data about how well pupils achieve so that schools and local authority areas are more accountable to parents. The Green Paper on special educational needs and disabilities will explore how to increase transparency so that parents know how their child is to be supported and how their child is progressing.

Sure Start Programme

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to revise the core universal offer set by his Department for Sure Start children's centres.

Sarah Teather: Sure Start children's centres have a critical role to play in their communities and remain at the heart of the Government's vision for early intervention. We aim to retain a national network of Sure Start children's centres with a core universal offer but with a greater emphasis on delivering proven early intervention programmes to support families in greatest need. We are exploring ways to move beyond the current core offer to give children's centres greater flexibility to respond to the needs of families in their area. We are exploring, with experts from the sector, how we can focus more clearly on the core purpose of children's centres and the outcomes we want to see, particularly for the most disadvantaged groups.

Sure Start Programme: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average administration costs of Sure Start children's centres were in Liverpool in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 15 February 2011
	The Department for Education does not currently collect data on the administration costs of Sure Start Children's Centres nationally.
	We have consulted on changes to data which local authorities are required to report on their expenditure on children's services. From 2011-12, local authority expenditure on Sure Start Children's Centres will be published, including how much funding is held back for local authority central administration costs, and how much is spent on front line services.

Teachers: Registration

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the registered teacher programme.

Nick Gibb: We have stated our intention in the Schools White Paper 2010 "The Importance of Teaching" to reform the way in which initial teacher training (ITT) is performed and funded to improve the quality of teachers and teaching. The document sets out a number of steps which will be taken to achieve this including reforming ITT so that more training is in the classroom. We are therefore currently reviewing all the routes into teaching, including the Registered Teacher Programme. We will publish for consultation a discussion document early in 2011 on our detailed proposals for ITT from academic year 2012/13.

Teachers: Rights of Accused

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether staff working in  (a) sixth form colleges and  (b) further education colleges will be given anonymity when accused of an offence by students aged 18 and under, on the same basis as is proposed for school teachers in paragraph 3.6 of the White Paper, The Importance of Teaching.

Nick Gibb: The commitment in the Schools White Paper, "The Importance of Teaching", currently applies only to teachers in schools. This is because teachers are particularly vulnerable to the damage that maliciously intended or false allegations can have on their careers and personal lives. School teachers are responsible for the discipline of pupils in their classrooms and as such may on occasion need to use reasonable force to prevent pupils committing a criminal offence, injuring themselves or others, damaging property or to maintain good order and discipline. There is a perception that some children feel they can make allegations without any thought to the consequences for the teacher concerned, because they know it is unlikely they will be punished for making a false allegation. Where allegations are found to have been made maliciously the clearing of the teacher's name may be scant consolation for the trauma suffered through the social stigma attached to having been suspected of abusing or hurting a child. There may be arguments that the wider children's workforce, including those working in sixth form or further education colleges, can also be vulnerable to such allegations and I intend to keep under consideration the possibility of widening the scope of the anonymity protection.

Teachers: Vocational Guidance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department undertook an impact assessment in respect of the changes to the number of Training Development Agency staff who provide specialist careers advice to people wishing to train as teachers.

Nick Gibb: As part of the Government's spending efficiencies in this financial year, all current programmes offering information, advice and guidance to those interested in a teaching career were reviewed by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), in discussion with the Department.
	The regional careers advisers programme was one of a range of activities that TDA offered. The careers advisers had been contracted by the TDA and were not full-time TDA employees. Their role was to offer independent specialist careers advice to career changers. With the availability of independent careers advice from other sources offered nationally, TDA concluded that this programme was no longer a priority.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanisms exist for the co-ordination of the implementation in the UK of the Government's obligations under the UN convention on the rights of the child.

Sarah Teather: Since ratification in 1991, Governments have implemented the UN convention on the rights of the child through a mixture of legislation and policy initiatives. This Government take their obligations to the implementation of the convention very seriously. In line with devolved powers, each of the devolved Administrations implements the UN Committee's concluding observations within the context of their own national requirements.
	As state party, the Westminster Government are responsible for overall compliance with and co-ordination of the convention across the UK. The Department for Education leads the implementation of the convention in England, and works with children's organisations, the devolved Administrations, and other Government Departments to co-ordinate UK-wide progress and report on the convention.

Vocational Education: GCSE

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education by what date he expects BTEC or equivalent qualifications to be included as part of the school attainment measure of five GCSE grades at A* to C including English and mathematics.

Nick Gibb: BTEC or equivalent qualifications are included in the school attainment measures of five GCSEs at A*-C including English and mathematics that were published in the Performance Tables on 12 January 2011. These equivalent qualifications have been included in school attainment measures since 2004 and in the five GCSE grades at A*-C including English and maths measure since it was introduced into performance tables in 2006.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 37370, on regulations removed by his Department, tabled on 26 January 2011 for answer on 31 January.

Tim Loughton: A response was issued to the hon. Member on 28 February,  Official Report, columns 259-260W.

Youth Services: Finance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what statutory duties local authorities are required to meet in respect of the early intervention grant.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 7 February 2011
	The Government have committed to investment and reform in early intervention at a time of financial constraint-intervening early makes sense socially, morally and financially. The Early intervention Grant is intended to fund universal programmes and activities available to all children, young people and families, as well as specialist services where intensive support is needed. However, it is up to local authorities in consultation with their local communities to prioritise the type and distribution of services subject to their statutory duties.
	There are no statutory duties specifically attached to the funding in the Early Intervention Grant, due to the un-ringfenced nature of the grant. The Early Intervention Grant may be used to fulfil statutory duties such as Sure Start and Short Break services but local authorities can meet the requirements of their statutory duties through a combination of all their funding, subject to local priorities. As the Early Intervention Grant is un-ringfenced, it provides the freedom and flexibility local authorities need to make savings while protecting the services that are most important to their residents.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Council Tax Benefits

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely budget for council tax benefit in each year to 2014-15.

Steve Webb: The nominal figures for estimated council tax benefit expenditure are as follows:
	
		
			   Forecasted nominal CTB expenditure (£ million) as of autumn 2010 
			 2010-11 4,958 
			 2011-12 4,876 
			 2012-13 4,939 
			 2013-14 4,449 
			 2014-15 4,537

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 853W.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice.

Chris Grayling: Since the publication of the Principles of Good Employment Practice in December 2010, the Department for Work and Pensions has reviewed its procurement policy and practice to confirm they comply with the six principles. These complement the DWP Supplier Charter and guide the Department's discussions and relationships with its suppliers on contracting arrangements.

Departmental Responsibilities

Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish details of all new units or teams established within his Department since May 2010, including the  (a) name,  (b) purpose,  (c) staffing levels and  (d) total annual operational costs in each such case.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is currently going through a period of organisational review. As part of this, teams and units will naturally merge and reform in order to ensure it provides efficient and effective services.
	An exception to this is the Universal Credit Directorate, formed in November 2010 to replace six income replacement benefits with a simple, efficient universal credit, designed to make work pay. In 2011-12, a budget of £6.6 million has been allocated for 99 existing staff, who are working to develop and implement universal credit in a way that offers our customers a fast, modern and seamless service. This team will be responsible for the management of the programme including liaison with local authorities and other Government Departments, designing and developing business processes, communications and planning for the delivery of the new universal credit. As the programme progresses, there will be a need for more teams to administrate it, but the details on that have still to be decided.

Disability Living Allowance

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) London,  (b) Harrow East constituency and  (c) the UK will be affected by the changes in the mobility component of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: As was announced at publication of the Welfare Reform Bill on 17 February, the Government's intention is to bring in any change to the mobility component as part of the wider reform of disability living allowance (DLA). Consultation on wider reform of DLA with the key proposal of a new benefit to be known as personal independence payment concluded on 18 February. All working age recipients of disability living allowance will be reassessed against the conditions of entitlement to personal independence payment over a three-year period beginning in 2013.
	As the new assessment for personal independence payment and the process for reassessing the existing DLA case load are still being developed, I am unable, at this stage, to provide a precise estimate for the number of people affected.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to support disabled people seeking work.

Maria Miller: We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same employment opportunities and chances as everyone else to find and stay in work, regardless of their disability or benefit status.
	As part of this commitment, the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for a range of employment provision specifically aimed at disabled people.
	Work Choice, which was launched in October last year, provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual. Work Choice is voluntary and available regardless of any benefits being claimed.
	Access to Work-provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work.
	In addition, Remploy is an Executive Non Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. It delivers a range of employment and development opportunities for disabled people under the Work Choice programme.
	The Department for Work and Pensions also funds residential training for unemployed disabled adults whose needs cannot be met through any other Government funded programmes.
	Later this year, the Work programme will be introduced which will provide more personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people. Contributory ESA customers will be able to volunteer for the Work programme, and if they wish, remain on the programme after their benefit has come to an end, ensuring that they receive all the support they need to help them return to work.
	The Work programme will be complemented by a new Jobcentre Plus offer which will allow more flexibility to Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers to judge which interventions will help individual customers, including disabled customers, most cost effectively and meet local need. Jobcentre Plus will continue to work closely with local health services, supported by disability employment advisers and work psychologists.
	I also commissioned an independent review of the support the Government provides to disabled people who want to work. This review is being conducted by Liz Sayce, chief executive of the disability organisation RADAR and will report in the summer 2011, with recommendations on how existing specialist employment support for disabled people can better serve the Department's wide ranging customer base.

Future Jobs Fund: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were placed in employment in Coventry through the Future Jobs Fund, in each of the last three years.

Chris Grayling: The Future Jobs Fund (FJF) at up to £6,500 per person is expensive; creates temporary, short term jobs; and the grants do not include any incentives to move people into permanent employment.
	The most recent Young Person's Guarantee statistics were published on 19 January 2011. Statistics are available on the Future Jobs Fund which covers the period from October 2009 to the end of October 2010.
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  The number of people in the Coventry South, Coventry North East and Coventry North West constituencies that have started FJF funded employment since October 2009 
			   Starts 
			 October 2009 - 
			 November 2009 - 
			 December 2009 - 
			 January 2010 40 
			 February 2010 60 
			 March 2010 80 
			 April 2010 30 
			 May 2010 20 
			 June 2010 20 
			 July 2010 40 
			 August 2010 40 
			 September 2010 40 
			 October 2010 40 
			 Total 410 
			  Notes: 1. Data Source-DWP LMS opportunities evaluation database November 2010. 2. Due to Data Protection protocols, values less than 10 are suppressed and marked with a dash to avoid unnecessary disclosure. Additionally, any figures above 10 are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding, totals may not be the sum of the individual cells. Months are calendar months.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Jobseekers and Work Programme Division

Future Jobs Fund: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions into what industries in Coventry those in Coventry who had previously been supported through the Future Jobs Fund have been placed in during 2010-11.

Chris Grayling: We do not keep records of where people have been employed through the future jobs fund. This information is only held by the bodies who receive grants from the fund. Grants were awarded to the following bodies to deliver future jobs fund opportunities in Coventry.
	3SC
	Barnardo's
	Community Service Volunteers
	Community Transport
	Coventry City Council
	Football League Trust
	Groundwork UK and National Housing Association
	National Skills Academy
	The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
	The Salvation Army
	v-Russell Commission Implementation Body
	Warwickshire County Council

Housing Benefit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of tenants  (a) in the West Midlands and  (b) nationally whose monthly rent payments are higher than their housing benefit payment.

Steve Webb: The two year review of the local housing allowance (LHA), which was published in February 2011, contained information on the proportion of LHA cases experiencing excesses and shortfalls. It showed that in the West Midlands 53% of LHA cases had contractual rents higher than their applicable LHA rates. Across Great Britain, 49% of customers had contractual rents higher than their applicable LHA rates.
	Levels of income higher than the claimant's applicable amount or deductions for non-dependants would make the HB award lower than the LHA rate and increase the proportions with shortfalls beyond what is shown here.
	 Source:
	Analysis of February 2010 single housing benefit extract data.
	The two year review is available at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-review-feb-2011.pdf

Housing Benefit: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of housing benefit claimants in Coventry were  (a) pensioners,  (b) in work and  (c) out of work in each of the last three years.

Steve Webb: As requested, the following table presents the proportion of housing benefit recipients by employment status and those aged 65 and over-Coventry local authority.
	
		
			  HB recipients in Coventry LA 
			   All recipients  Proportion over 65  Proportion not in employment  Proportion in employment 
			 November 2008 24,790 23.0 88.8 11.2 
			 October 2009 27,520 20.9 87.4 12.6 
			 November 2010 28,870 20.0 83.9 16.1 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and November 2010 is the most recent available, 4. The data for November 2009 does not contain all of the variables required to answer this question, October 2009 has been used in this instance. 5. The figures have been rounded to the nearest ten, proportions to one decimal place. 6. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple 7. The data for "in employment" refers to people receiving housing benefit not in receipt of a passported benefit and are recorded as being in employment if their local authority has recorded employment income from either the main claimant, or partner of claimant (if applicable), in calculating the housing benefit award. People receiving passported benefits who are working part-time cannot be identified and therefore not included in this analysis.  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE).

Jobcentre Plus: Temporary Employment

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many Jobcentre Plus employees on successive fixed-term contracts of between three and four years in duration in  (a) Glasgow,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK were released in each of the last four years; and how many employees on successive fixed-term contracts of between three and four years he expects to be released in each of the next four years;
	(2)  how many Jobcentre Plus employees engaged on fixed-term contracts had their contracts made permanent under the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 in  (a) Glasgow,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK in each of the last four years;
	(3)  how many Jobcentre Plus staff in  (a) Glasgow,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK in each of the last four years were employed on fixed-term contracts; and what the average duration of such contracts was in each such year;
	(4)  how many Jobcentre Plus staff he expects to be engaged on fixed-term contracts in  (a) Glasgow,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK in each of the next four years; and what the average duration of such contracts will be in each such year.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking:
	1. How many Jobcentre Plus employees on successive fixed term contracts of between three and four years in duration in a) Glasgow; b) Scotland; and c) the UK were released in each of the last four years; and how many employees on successive fixed term contracts of between three and four years he expects to be released in each of the next four years.
	2. How many Jobcentre Plus employees engaged on fixed-term contracts had their contracts made permanent under the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each of the last four years.
	3. How many Jobcentre Plus staff in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each of the last four years were employed on fixed-term contracts; and what the average duration of such contracts was in each such year.
	4. How many Jobcentre Plus staff he expects to be engaged on fixed-term contracts in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each of the next four years; and what the average duration of such contracts will be in each such year.
	These are issues that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In response to Question 1, the information in the following table concerning employees released is set out on a staff in post basis, i.e. employees are counted as a single unit irrespective of the hours they work. The table shows employees released in the last four years with contracts of between three and four years duration. It covers the latest period for which data is available. When we report against Glasgow, it is on the basis of the Jobcentre Plus operational district.
	
		
			   October 2006 to September 2007  October 2007 to September 2008  October 2008 to September 2009  October 20 09 to  September 2010 
			 Glasgow 2 0 0 0 
			 Scotland 2 0 0 1 
			 Jobcentre Plus-National 34 1 4 18 
		
	
	In response to the second part of Question 1, as at September 10, we had around 9,500 people employed on Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs). Most people have contracts of up to two years and will be expected to leave during the course of 2011/12. We are considering extending the contracts of some of these people where required.
	The data being reported is drawn from internal Departmental systems used to record and monitor staffing details.
	In response to Question 2, local clerical records held in Glasgow indicate that no people were made permanent under the Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of less favourable treatment) regulations. It is not possible to consolidate clerical records for all areas of Scotland or for Jobcentre Plus nationally without disproportionate cost.
	In response to Question 3, the following table shows the number of staff employed on FTA contracts in each of the last four years. This is taken from our internal systems and the numbers based on the latest information we hold on FTAs. The numbers shown are the people who worked as FTAs during each of the periods in question. Some people will have worked in more than one period and will be counted in both.
	
		
			  Number of FTAs 
			   October 2006 to September 2007  October 2007 to September 2008  October 2008 to September 2009  October 2009 to September 2010 
			 Glasgow 4 42 295 290 
			 Scotland 63 312 1,493 1,600 
			 Jobcentre Plus-National 657 1,721 12,235 14,979 
		
	
	The following table shows the average duration of FTA contracts over the last four years. This represents the average of the length of contract between the start and end dates of employment for individuals leaving Jobcentre Plus within each of the years in question. The figures have been rounded to one decimal place:
	
		
			  Average duration (years) 
			   October 2006 to September 2007  October 2007 to September 2008  October 2008 to September 2009  October 2009 to September 2010 
			 Glasgow 3 0.9 0.5 1.3 
			 Scotland 1.3 0.8 0.3 1.4 
			 Jobcentre Plus-National 1.5 0.7 0.7 1.4 
		
	
	In response to Question 4, Jobcentre Plus recruited extra people on fixed term contracts to address the impact of the economic downturn. It was anticipated that increased workloads would be temporary and it was always planned to reduce numbers as the growth in unemployment slowed. Jobcentre Plus continues to keep its workloads and staffing levels under close scrutiny. That includes the need to extend FTAs. At this point, Jobcentre Plus does not plan to recruit further FTAs and will release the majority of existing FTAs during 2011/12. This will be kept under review.

Older People: Employment

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of workers aged 65 years  (a) in Glasgow South West constituency and  (b) nationally who are likely to remain in the workforce for an additional year in 2011 following the end of the default retirement age.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	The impact assessment estimates that around 6,000 additional workers are likely to remain in the workforce across the UK in the first year. We do not have data from which to produce robust statistics on the proportion likely to remain in the workforce at the sub-regional level. The full impact assessment was published on 13 January 2011 and is available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/p/11-634-phasing-out-default-retirement-age-impact-assessment.pdf

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many migrants from other EU member states claimed social security benefits in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; what estimate he has made of the likely change in this number in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: People from other EU member states who have worked in the UK and paid national insurance contributions may claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based jobseeker's allowance if they satisfy the contributions and other conditions for the benefit.
	EU migrants cannot normally claim income-related benefits(1) unless they satisfy the habitual residence test.
	The specific information sought about the number claiming benefits is not available. The UK's benefit payment systems do not record the nationality of people receiving benefits and no forecasts have been made.
	(1) Income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Social Security Benefits: Internet

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the proportion of benefit enquiries and applications made by those without home access to the internet in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: This information does not exist in the format that has been requested.
	Online customer feedback collected by the Department to evaluate the use of the job seekers allowance (JSA) internet service asked customers where they made their online application. This indicates that 87% of these customers accessed the internet at home when making their online JSA application.

State Retirement Pensions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that the basic state pension is claimable by each recipient with effect from the birthday at which they reach the state pension age; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Prior to April 2010, state pension was paid in advance and only for full benefit weeks (seven days), from the first Monday on or after the date on which the person reached state pension age. In April 2010, for people moving from a working age benefit to a pension age benefit, state pension became payable for less than a week to cover any gap caused by benefit pay days being different, to ensure continuity of payment.
	In all other circumstances (for instance, for those in work or not in receipt of benefit) state pension continues to be paid only for full benefit weeks, and is now paid in arrears with the pay day determined by the person's national insurance number.
	There are no plans to change this approach.

State Retirement Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average reduction in income for  (a) men and  (b) women currently aged (i) 50, (ii) 51, (iii) 52, (iv) 53, (v) 54, (vi) 55, (vii) 56 and (viii) 57 who would receive (1) guarantee credit, (2) housing benefit and (3) council tax benefit on retirement as a result of the proposed change in the timetable for increasing the state pension age.

Steve Webb: The information is not available.
	The outcome will vary greatly among individuals depending on factors such as: other sources of income, household income and savings eligibility for working age benefits.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of households who will have lower entitlements under universal credit fall into each £10,000 income band.

Chris Grayling: Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers from universal credit, at the point of transition.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish an impact assessment on the operation of  (a) universal credit and  (b) the localised system of council tax benefit.

Steve Webb: We are currently considering when will be most appropriate to conduct an impact assessment on the operation of universal credit.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government are leading the work on the localisation of council tax support in relation to England. They will publish a draft impact assessment alongside a consultation in due course. This will be updated when legislation on the new scheme is introduced.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of providing transitional protection for benefit recipients in households in each £10,000 income band.

Chris Grayling: This information is not available and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations

David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the composition is of the Afghan High Peace Council.

Alistair Burt: The High Peace Council comprises seventy members drawn from all of Afghanistan's major ethnic groups, and includes representatives of the government and opposition, women, civil society and former insurgents. It is chaired by former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Burma: Asylum

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Thailand on reports of forced deportation of Rohingya refugees.

Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned over allegations that at the beginning of 2011 Thailand forcibly deported Rohingya refugees. Our ambassador to Thailand reiterated our concern over their treatment with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 February 2011. During this discussion he stressed the importance of ensuring that Thailand treats all refugees according to international standards and pressed for unhindered access for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. We deplore the targeted persecution of ethnic groups in Burma and will continue to underline regularly to international partners that the cause of refugee flows out of Burma is the regime's appalling human rights record.

Burma: Asylum

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Thailand on provision to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of unhindered access to Rohingya asylum seekers detained in Thailand.

Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by the recent influx to Thailand of Rohingya refugees who have fled Burma to escape human rights abuses. Our embassy in Thailand is in regular contact with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and has made representations to the Thai Government to press for full access by the UNHCR to the Rohingya. Most recently on 9 February 2011, our ambassador to Thailand raised the issue with the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our embassy is also working with EU partners to continue to press the Thai authorities on this matter.

Climate Change Convention

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with his  (a) German,  (b) US,  (c) Indian,  (d) Chinese,  (e) Malawian,  (f) Gambian,  (g) Bolivian and  (h) Malaysian counterparts.

Henry Bellingham: Engagement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), is only one way in which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) engages on climate change. As the Secretary of State said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York in September 2010,
	"the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, under my leadership, is a vocal advocate for climate diplomacy. British Ambassadors carry the argument for a global low carbon transition in their breast pocket or their handbag. Climate change is part of their daily vocabulary, alongside the traditional themes of foreign policy."
	I myself regularly raise these issues with foreign partners.
	The Secretary of State has discussed climate change issues with his German counterpart and the Chinese Vice Premier, Li Keqiang (who visited the UK from 9-12 January 2011). He has not done so with his counterparts from the other countries listed, not all of whom he has met.
	Most recently, the Secretary of State has focused on reinforcing European climate diplomacy, writing on 24 February 2011, with his German counterpart to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy suggesting that EU Foreign Ministers meet to agree how the EU can play a more effective role on climate change.

Departmental Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects his Department to meet the Government's commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK currently meets the Government's commitment, as detailed in the coalition agreement, to "ensure that food procured by government departments, and eventually the whole public sector, meets British standards of production wherever this can be achieved without increasing overall cost."
	We will formally report progress against this requirement in June 2011.
	A response for the FCO's global network could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have staff in a civil service redeployment pool. The FCO's corporate pool is for staff who, because of the pattern of careers in the FCO, with a mixture of home and overseas postings, and fixed posting cycles, have unavoidable gaps between substantive jobs. In the vast majority of cases we are able to deploy these officers into temporary roles to meet short-term priority needs and to deal with unexpected crises. For example, we have deployed more than 50 staff from the corporate pool to help provide additional cover for the Libya crisis.
	The number in the corporate pool change on a daily basis. On 28 February 2011 there were 227 people in the corporate pool of which 78 had been in it for more than six months. All but 12 members of the pool are currently fully deployed.

Departmental Official Residences

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of residences used by Ministers in his Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: Chevening House in Sevenoaks is owned and administered by a private trust. Some residual costs are met by the public purse. These total £3,694.62 per annum.
	The flat that constitutes the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs official residence at 1 Carlton Gardens is estimated to cost a total of £65,448 for the financial year 2010-11, a saving of £1,406 on the previous financial year.
	Since my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's occupation of 1 Carlton Gardens on 28 June 2010, council tax and utility costs have been met by him personally.

Electoral Reform Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services in each year since 2005.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has no record of contracts placed with Electoral Reform Services (ERS) in each year since 2005. The FCO does have contracts with Electoral Reform International Services, established by ERS in 1992. Information on the value of these contracts is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to encourage other countries to sign the Hague Convention on Child Abduction.

Jeremy Browne: The Government actively lobby countries where we have a significant number of abduction cases, or where we have encountered specific problems, to sign the 1980 Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction.

Hezbollah

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) his Israeli counterpart,  (b) his Lebanese counterpart and  (c) his Syrian counterpart on Hezbollah's military capabilities in southern Lebanon.

Alistair Burt: Both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, and the Prime Minister have raised the issue of Hizballah weapons recently; my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary with President Assad and Foreign Minister Muallem during his visit to Damascus in January 2011 and the Prime Minister in discussions with Prime Minister Hariri in November 2010.
	Our embassies in Tel Aviv, Beirut and Damascus also raise the issue of Hizballah's weapons with the Israeli, Lebanese and Syrian Governments on a regular basis.

Hosni Mubarak

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to freeze the assets of former President Mubarak held in the UK.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 3 March 2011
	The Egyptian authorities have provided us, and other countries, with a list of names in relation to freezing the assets of several members of the former regime. However, it is our policy not to disclose the names of such people to avoid assets being moved. If evidence of illegality or misuse of state assets is shown to exist and provided to us, we will take firm and prompt action. The EU is also considering the options available to respond to the Egyptian authorities.

Hosni Mubarak

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps  (a) the Government and  (b) the Serious Organised Crime Agency have taken in respect of the assets of Hosni Mubarak and his associates.

William Hague: holding answer 4 March 2011
	The Egyptian authorities have provided us, and other countries, with a list of names in relation to freezing the assets of several members of the former regime. However, it is our policy not to disclose the names of such people to avoid assets being moved. If evidence of illegality or misuse of state assets is shown to exist and provided to us, we will take firm and prompt action. The EU is also considering the options available to respond to the Egyptian authorities.
	Financial institutions are required under the money laundering regulations to do enhanced due diligence with individuals who hold prominent public functions and to report suspicious activity to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. These obligations have been stressed over the course of recent events by both Her Majesty's Treasury and the Financial Services Authority with the banks and others.

Iraq: Christianity

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the treatment of Christians in Iraq in the last 12 months.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received and continues to receive regular representations from parliamentarians and members of the public about the situation for Christians in Iraq. The number of representations rose sharply after the tragic attacks against Christian groups in October and November 2010.
	We continue to urge the Iraqi Government to protect and ensure the security of all Iraqis, including Christians. Other EU countries, including Italy and France have also co-ordinated their responses with the UK.

Iraq: Minority Groups

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Iraq on the human rights of Iraqi Turkmen; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We continue to encourage the Iraqi Government to promote and protect the rights and freedoms of all Iraqi citizens, including the Turkmen community. In recent months we have urged the Iraqi Government to ensure the security of all its communities and deal appropriately with those responsible for any acts of violence and intimidation due to political, ethnic or religious affiliation.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet regularly with representatives from different Iraqi communities, including the Turkmen community. We will continue to listen to their concerns and do what we can to help improve the human rights situation in Iraq.

Lebanon: Capital Punishment

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on persons sentenced to death in Lebanon for intelligence gathering for Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are currently aware of seven individuals who have been sentenced to death for Israeli related spying activities, the most recent being on 17 February 2011.
	We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle because we believe it undermines human dignity; there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value; and any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.
	There is no reliable evidence to support the argument that the death penalty is a deterrent to serious crime; numerous academic studies have failed to establish that execution deters more than the prospect of a long sentence.

Libya: Politics and Government

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the political situation in Libya.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), continue to be in regular contact with EU counterparts on the situation in Libya. In particular, the Secretary of State had detailed discussions with the new French Foreign Minister in Paris on 3 March 2011.
	We have succeeded in pushing the EU to adopt a tough package of sanctions against Libya, including an asset freeze, visa ban, arms embargo and embargo on equipment used for internal repression.
	The next high-level meeting will be an emergency European Council meeting convened for 11 March 2011 to discuss developments in Libya, as well as other countries in north Africa and the middle east.

Libya: Politics and Government

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom the Government recognises as the de jure government of Libya.

Alistair Burt: We have called for the end of Colonel Gaddafi's regime and to that end we are taking every step possible to isolate the Gaddafi regime, deprive it of money, shrink its power and ensure that anyone responsible for abuses in Libya will be held to account.

Libya: Politics and Government

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom the Government recognises as the de jure government of Libya under the Vienna Convention.

Alistair Burt: The Vienna convention on diplomatic relations does not contain any provisions on recognition of governments.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the blockade in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: Although we no longer assess that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza we have long been clear that the status quo is a tragedy, unsustainable and counterproductive.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the situation in Gaza with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he visited Israel in November 2010. The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), discussed Gaza at length with the Israeli Coordinator for Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT), General Dangot, when he visited the region on 16-19 January 2011. Officials at our embassy in Tel Aviv raise Gaza access with the Government of Israel on a regular basis.
	There has been an increase in the quantity and variety of goods entering Gaza. But
	we continue to call on Israel to ensure the unconditional opening of crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons. We also look to Israel to speed up the approvals process for dual-use items and accelerate key imports for UN led reconstruction.
	We welcome steps, such as Israel's approval of the 20 projects in Gaza including the seven UN Relief and Works Agency schools they announced on 4 February 2011. We continue to press for further such steps.

Middle East: EU External Relations

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 10 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 434-5W, on the Middle East: peace negotiations, when the European Commission next plans to review its association agreements with  (a) Lebanon,  (b) Tunisia,  (c) Morocco and  (d) Algeria.

Alistair Burt: The European External Action Service and European Commission publish annual European Neighbourhood Policy reports covering all partner countries, including Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. While we do not have a fixed date for publication in 2011, last year's reports were published in May 2010.
	The latest assessments by country are at:
	http://eeas.europa.eu/countries/index_en.htm
	Until annual European Neighbourhood Policy report is published we are unable to make an assessment on the progress made.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Palestinian Authority to encourage it to recognise the religious and historical significance of the Western Wall to Jewish people; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We strongly support the right to freedom of religion or belief as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the full implementation of the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
	Jerusalem holds particular significance for many people worldwide especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It is crucial that the parties come to an agreement whereby Jerusalem can be a shared capital of both an Israeli and a Palestinian state.
	We make our views on these issues clear to both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. We continue to call for restraint and the avoidance of provocative actions from both sides in and around Jerusalem.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with governments in the Middle East on the boycott by Hamas of Israeli goods in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: Given wider changes across the region, our recent contacts with Governments in the Middle East have focused on the challenges and opportunities these changes present. We have not discussed the issue cited.

Muammar al-Gaddafi

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision was taken to publicise reports that Colonel Gaddafi had travelled to Venezuela.

William Hague: holding answer 3 March 2011
	I responded to a question from the media when leaving the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 21 February 2011. In this, I noted that I had no information that Colonel Gaddafi had travelled to Venezuela, but had seen some information that suggested he may have travelled there.

Palestinians: Elections

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to support the holding of elections in the Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State, the right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford, of 9 February 2011,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column WA70.

Palestinians: Security Forces

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2011,  Official Report, column 1001W, on Palestinians: security forces, what proportion of the Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool was used to assist the US Security Co-ordinator for Israel and the Palestinian territories in the training of Palestinian security forces in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010.

Alistair Burt: The proportion of Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool (MENA CP) funding provided to assist the US Security Co-ordinator through the deployment of the British support team in Ramallah for each of the years referred to is:
	
		
			  Financial year  Percentage 
			 2008-09 33 
			 2009-10 16 
			 2010-11 18 
		
	
	The proportion of the funding out of the MENA CP allocation for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories specifically was:
	
		
			  Financial year  Percentage 
			 2008-09 57 
			 2009-10 68 
			 2010-11 60 
		
	
	Final funding for 2010-11 is not confirmed and is based on the provisional allocation.

Somalia: Piracy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Chair of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia; and what steps he plans to take in response to those conclusions.

Henry Bellingham: We support fully the conclusions of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) at its November 2010 plenary meeting.
	The UK supports the strong leadership role of the CGPCS in co-ordinating the international response to piracy, and is leading the response to current operational and regional maritime capability issues through its chairmanship of CGPCS Working Group 1.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is able to continue its work in safety.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, and I have both underlined our support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. We have called for the Tribunal to be allowed to carry out its work without hindrance or impediment and for all sides to co-operate constructively and not interfere with due process. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated that:
	"The UK looks for a government that is formed in accordance with Lebanon's constitution; that commands the broadest possible support of the people of Lebanon; that upholds its international obligations including the Special Tribunal and an end to impunity for assassinations".
	As the chair, and a member, of the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal, the UK continues to provide active support on all financial and administrative issues, including supporting tribunal efforts to ensure the safety of its staff.

Sri Lanka: Languages

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on attempts by the government of Sri Lanka to ensure language rights of citizens in  (a) Tamil-speaking and  (b) other areas of that country.

Alistair Burt: Following my recent visit to Sri Lanka, I am aware of concerns regarding language barriers, including access by Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans to government services. The Sri Lankan Government have recognised this issue and are seeking to ensure more state officials are able to speak Tamil. During 2010 the police force launched recruitment drives to attract 1,500 Tamil civilians into the police force. The UK, with the Sri Lankan Government's consent, has provided Tamil language training to over 300 police personnel. Through the British Council we have also conducted training of trainers and provided Tamil language learning materials for the security forces.
	One of the interim recommendations for the Sri Lankan Government's 'Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission' is to provide interpreters to assist with overcoming language barriers. We welcome this recommendation and the Sri Lankan Government's efforts to improve access to government services for all communities.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to support the national reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: We believe that the best way to achieve lasting and equitable peace in Sri Lanka is through an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict and takes into account the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all Sri Lanka's communities.
	During my visit to Sri Lanka last month I met with senior government officials and raised this issue. We hope the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission can play a role in the post-conflict reconciliation process. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government, and their people, to shape a sustainable national reconciliation process.

Tibet

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the constitutional status of Tibet.

Jeremy Browne: The Government recognise Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China.

Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to  (a) volunteer and  (b) donate via payroll giving.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a strong tradition of voluntary work, ranging from individuals getting involved with their local communities to whole departments undertaking voluntary activities in the UK and throughout our overseas network. The amount of time given varies according to the nature of the activity, but all employees are offered up to five days special paid leave a year to volunteer. Examples of some of the voluntary activity undertaken by individual members of staff granted special paid leave are:
	Youth Educator, Envision Project;
	Participation in reintegration project for young ex-convicts;
	Facilitation of Royal Commonwealth Society Commonwealth Youth Summits;
	Event promotion for Croydon Community Against Trafficking.
	Our special unpaid leave policy (SUPL) allows staff, among other things, to work outside the FCO, for example with a non-governmental organisation for a period of up to five years.
	The FCO has a policy in place where staff can contribute to their chosen charity via a Give as You Earn/Payroll Giving scheme. Each year the FCO provides several reminders to staff how effective contributions via their payroll in either regular or single donations can be, especially for higher rate taxpayers. There are currently over 300 employees in the FCO who have signed up to payroll giving, with around 21 charities represented, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Cancer Research, Help for Heroes and the UN Children's Fund. In financial year 2009-10 FCO staff donated over £100,000.

Yemen

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official visits Ministers from his Department have made to Yemen since 1997; and for what purpose.

Alistair Burt: Since 1997 the following Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers have visited Yemen to further bilateral relations and discuss mutual areas of concern:
	Dr Kim Howells, FCO Minister of State: January 2006
	Dr Kim Howells, FCO Minister of State: May 2008
	Ivan Lewis, FCO Minister of State: February 2010.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) visited in February 2011.
	I visited Yemen in June 2010.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of his recent visit to Yemen; what matters were discussed during his meeting with President Ali Abdullah Saleh; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met President Saleh in Yemen on 9 February and delivered clear messages to the Government there.
	Firstly, we want the Government of Yemen to make progress on national dialogue with the opposition parties, including agreement on implementing much needed political and economic reform and action to address the legitimate grievances of the Yemeni people.
	Secondly, we have asked for a prioritised and budgeted Development Plan for Poverty Reduction from the Yemeni Government so that we, and other donors, can establish an appropriate financing mechanism for Yemen and be confident that funds are properly used.
	Finally, the Secretary of State called for intensified Yemeni efforts to disrupt the al-Qaeda threat on their territory and further action to resolve internal grievances and conflicts.
	We will discuss progress on these issues at the next Friends of Yemen meeting in March.

JUSTICE

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in January and February 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: The percentage of payments made within 10 days to all suppliers for the month of January and February 2011 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 January 2011 93 
			 February 2011 95

Departmental Leaseback Arrangements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assets his Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has not sold and leased back any assets in the last 12 months.

Electoral Reform Services Ltd

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the monetary value was of contracts his Department placed with Electoral Reform Services Ltd in each year since 2005.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was created in May 2007 by combining the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and part of the Home Office. All data given are from that date onwards as it would incur disproportionate costs to give data from the DCA and Home Office.
	The MoJ has no contracts with the Electoral Reform Service Ltd.
	The Electoral Reform Services Ltd has carried out some consultancy work for the MoJ. The invoice dates and costs are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 23 December 2010 1,349.08 
			 21 December 2009 2,517.54 
			 8 December 2008 751.62

European Court of Human Rights

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to seek reform of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.

Jonathan Djanogly: The United Kingdom was one of the 11 original signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights on 4 November 1950. The United Kingdom is bound by the European Convention and has recognised the jurisdiction and agreed to abide by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights since 14 January 1966.
	The Government are committed to supporting and building on the process of court reform already under way in Strasbourg.
	As part of the reform process, the Government would wish to see a strengthening of the principle of subsidiarity. That is, that the Convention should principally be implemented at a national level. The Government will work with other member states of the Council of Europe and the Court, including through our Chairmanship of the Council of Europe (November 2011-May 2012), to find ways to give further practical effect to this principle in the Convention system.

Human Rights: EU Action

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the timetable for the proposed accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jonathan Djanogly: No such discussions have taken place to date with EU ministerial counterparts. Discussions are continuing in official working groups to agree the details for accession. The Government will need to be sure that any accession agreement neither enlarges the competences of the Union nor negatively affects the position of the United Kingdom and other member states in relation to the ECHR. The Government will continue to participate fully in discussions about accession with these principles in mind.

Legal Aid Scheme: Payments

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what payments were made to the 20  (a) firms and  (b) barristers who received the highest total level of payments from the (i) criminal defence service scheme and (ii) the community legal service scheme in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: It is not possible to provide the information in the time available, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the House of Commons Library.

Legal Aid: Fees and Charges

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that legal aid recipients pay their legal fees once they are financially able to do so.

Jonathan Djanogly: The statutory charge has been an essential feature since the legal aid scheme was originally established in 1949. Where a legally aided client is wholly or partly successful in recovering or preserving goods or property, the charge converts legal aid from a grant into a loan.
	The Ministry of Justice recently conducted a consultation on proposals for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales, which closed on 14 February 2011. We are now carefully considering the responses that we have received, and will publish our response in due course. The consultation proposals can be viewed online at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/legal-aid-reform-151110.htm

Magistrates Courts: Skipton

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with representatives of HM Court Service on the consultation on the future of administrative provision at Skipton magistrates court.

Jonathan Djanogly: The deployment of court staff and resources at a local level is principally a matter for HMCS management rather than Ministers. I am aware however that HMCS is currently consulting on proposals regarding administrative provision at the Skipton courthouse and believe that these proposals, if they proceed, would increase its utilisation and efficiency.

Pleural Plaques Extra-statutory Scheme

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications his Department has received under the pleural plaques extra-statutory scheme to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: The extra-statutory scheme opened for applications on 2 August 2010 and, as of 25 February, a total of 6,991 applications have been registered.

Pleural Plaques Extra-statutory Scheme

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time taken is for an application to be processed under the pleural plaques extra-statutory scheme.

Jonathan Djanogly: The average time taken to process an application based on completed cases is currently 42 working days. This includes the time that applicants are given to provide supporting information as well as the time that they are given to consider the offer before advising their acceptance. Separate figures for these stages are not available.

Pleural Plaques Extra-statutory Scheme

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there has been any liaison between those responsible for administering the pleural plaques extra-statutory scheme and HM Revenue and Customs National Insurance Contributions Office Special Section A on the provision of employment history schedules for submission by applicants to the scheme.

Jonathan Djanogly: For applications under the pleural plaques scheme to be considered, it is important that applicants provide verifiable independent evidence of their employment history. In cases where applicants do not have any other proof of their employment history provision of an HM Revenue and Customs employment schedule is necessary. The onus is on the applicant or their representative to obtain and provide this. My officials have spoken to HM Revenue and Customs and they are aware of the position.

Prisoners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the position of the UK in international comparator tables on levels of imprisonment.

Crispin Blunt: A table showing the prison population of England and Wales compared with EU and other selected countries was published on 22 July 2010 in Offender Management Caseload Statistics (shown in tables 7.15). This can be found in the House Library and at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	Additionally, the data can be seen in the following table. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Table 7.15 Prison population( 1)  international comparisons with other EU countries and selected other countries 2003-09 
			  Country  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  Percentage change 2008-09  Rate( 20)  per 100,000 population in 2009 
			 England and Wales(2) 72,992 75,057 76,896 79,085 80,692 83,406 84,116 1 153 
			 Northern Ireland(3) 1,160 1,274 1,301 1,433 1,468 1,507 1,468 -3 82 
			 Scotland(3) 6,524 6,805 6,792 7,111 7,291 7,741 7,928 2 153 
			 Austria 7,816 9,000 8,767 8,780 8,887 7,899 8,423 7 101 
			 Belgium(4) 9,308 9,245 9,375 9,635 10,008 9,858 10,159 3 94 
			 Bulgaria(5) 9,422 10,066 10,871 11,436 11,058 10,271 9,408 -8 124 
			 Cyprus(6) 355 546 536 599 673 671 700 4 88 
			 Czech Republic(7) 17,277 18,343 18,937 18,578 18,901 20,502 21,734 6 207 
			 Denmark 3,577 3,762 4,132 3,759 3,406 3,451 3,881 12 70 
			 Estonia(5) 4,352 4,576 4,565 4,411 4,327 3,467 3,656 5 273 
			 Finland(7) 3,463 3,535 3,883 3,477 3,370 3,457 3,231 -7 60 
			 France(8) 57,440 56,271 56,595 55,754 60,677 62,843 61,787 -2 96 
			 Germany(9) 81,176 81,166 80,410 78,581 75,719 75,056 73,592 -2 90 
			 Greece(10) 8,555 8,760 9,589 10,113 11,120 11,798 11,080 -6 98 
			 Hungary(7) 16,507 16,543 15,720 14,821 14,353 14,736 15,373 4 153 
			 Ireland(11) 2,986 3,083 3,022 3,080 3,305 3,523 4,009 14 89 
			 Italy(7) 56,845 56,068 59,523 39,005 48,693 58,127 64,791 11 107 
			 Latvia(5) 8,366 8,179 7,646 6,965 6,548 6,548 6,873 5 304 
			 Lithuania(5) 11,070 8,063 8,125 8,137 8,079 7,866 8,000 2 239 
			 Luxembourg 498 548 693 756 745 674 679 1 136 
			 Malta(12) 278 277 298 346 387 412 480 17 116 
			 Netherlands 18,242 20,075 21,826 20,463 18,103 16,416 15,676 -5 95 
			 Poland(2) 80,692 79,344 82,656 87,669 90,199 84,549 85,598 1 225 
			 Portugal(7) 13,835 13,152 12,889 12,636 11,587 10,830 11,099 2 104 
			 Romania(7) 42,815 39,031 36,700 34,038 29,390 26,212 26,716 2 124 
			 Slovakia(7) 8,873 9,422 8,897 8,249 7,986 8,166 9,316 14 172 
			 Slovenia 1,099 1,126 1,132 1,301 1,336 1,317 1,360 3 66 
			 Spain 55,244 59,224 61,269 64,120 66,400 71,778 76,509 7 164 
			 Sweden(13) 6,755 7,332 7,054 7,175 6,770 6,853 7,286 6 78 
			 European Union 27 607,522 609,873 620,099 601,513 611,478 619,934 634,866 2 127 
			   
			 Croatia(5) 2,732 2,803 3,022 3,485 3,833 4,290 4,734 10 107 
			 Iceland 112 115 119 119 115 140 175 25 55 
			 Norway 2,914 2,975 3,097 3,164 3,280 3,278 3,285 0 68 
			 Russian Federation(5) 877,393 847,004 763,115 823,451 871,693 883,170 887,723 1 626 
			 Switzerland(14) 5,214 5,977 6,137 5,888 5,715 5,780 6,084 5 79 
			 Turkey(15) 64,051 71,148 54,296 67,795 85,865 99,416 113,493 14 157 
			 Ukraine(16) 198,386 193,489 179,519 165,716 154,055 145,946 146,394 0 320 
			 Australia(17) 23,555 24,171 25,353 25,790 27,224 27,615 29,317 6 134 
			 Brazil(18) 308,304 336,358 361,402 401,236 422,590 451,429 473,626 5 243 
			 Canada(19) 35,868 34,155 34,365 35,436 37,326 38,348 39,132 2 117 
			 Japan(7) 73,734 76,413 79,052 81,255 83,518 80,523 78,952 -2 62 
			 Korea (Rep. of)(3) 58,945 57,184 52,403 46,721 46,313 46,684 49,467 6 102 
			 Mexico(7) 182,530 193,889 205,821 210,140 212,841 219,754 224,749 2 204 
			 New Zealand(3) 6,059 6,556 7,100 7,595 7,959 7,763 8,287 7 192 
			 South Africa(9) 189,748 187,640 187,394 150,302 161,639 165,840 165,230 0 335 
			 U.S.A.(17) 2,082,728 2,129,802 2,183,152 2,245,189 2,296,133 2,308,561 2,297,400 0 748 
			 (1) At 1 September: number of prisoners, including pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners. (2 )At 31 August. (3) Annual averages. Countries calculate these on the basis of daily, weekly or monthly figures. (4 )At 1 March. (5) At 1 January. (6) At 1 September (2003-08), August (2009). (7) At 31 December. (8) Metropolitan and overseas departments and territories. (9) At 31 March. (10) At 1 September (2003, 05-06, 08-09), December (2004), November (2007). (11) At 1 September (2003-08), 9 October (2009). (12) At 1 September (2003-06), annual average (2007-08), 22 June (2009). (13) At 1 October. (14) At first Wednesday in September. (15) At 1 September (2003-08), 31 August (2009). (16) At 1 September (2003-07, 09), 31 December (2008). (17) At 30 June. (18) At December. (19) Annual averages by financial year (e.g. 2009 = 1 April 2008 - 31 March 2009). (20) Based on estimates of national population.  Note: Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last individual, the figures may not be accurate to that level. See Technical appendix of report for fuller information.  Sources: Ministries responsible for prisons, national prison administrations, national statistical offices, Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (SPACE), World Prison Population List (Roy Walmsley) and World Prison Brief (International Centre for Prison Studies)

Prisoners: Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on  (a) clothing,  (b) footwear and  (c) hygienic, cosmetic and related sundry products for prisoners in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) central accounting system holds expenditure on the provision of clothing and considerable other consumable items for use by prisoners in summary form only. In order to provide details of expenditure on the provision of clothing, footwear, and hygienic, cosmetic and related sundry projects for use by prisoners would require manually examining a large volume of records at individual establishments. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Education

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are undertaking courses of an undergraduate degree level or higher; and by what mechanism the fees for these courses are paid.

Crispin Blunt: In the 2010-11 financial year to date 1,609 prisoners in England and Wales have registered to start an Open University (OU)(1) course module. In addition, about 5(2) are currently studying at undergraduate level at other higher education institutions, none of whom are funded from statutory funds.
	Fees for the courses are paid through three separate systems.
	1. Course fees for initial OU study for prisoners are paid by the Prisoners Education Trust using funds from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, operating to a capped budget.
	2. When prisoners have successfully completed initial courses, most will be eligible for an income-assessed OU fee waiver which is funded through the HEFCE(3) Access to Learning Fund operating within the OU.
	3. Some prisoners receive funding for course fees from charitable funds provided by Prisoners Education Trust, the Longford Trust and other charities.
	4. A few prisoners self-fund.
	The Government's review of offender learning, which will report shortly, will cover higher education arrangements for prisoners.
	(1) Source: Prisoners' Education Trust, February 2011.
	(2) Based on data held; there may be additional students who self-fund or access student loans.
	(3) Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Prisoners: Mass Media

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 979-80W, on prisoners: interviews, how many prisoners have  (a) requested and  (b) been granted approval for face-to-face interviews since July 2010; in which prison each such prisoner was located; and for what offence each such prisoner was serving a sentence;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place to control written communications between prisoners and the media;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the involvement of media liaison officers in communications between prisoners and the media in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many media liaison officers are employed for  (a) the purpose of communications between prisoners and the media and  (b) other purposes;
	(4)  who was consulted on Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 37/2010 on prisoners' access to the media prior to its publication; whether any of those consultees represent victims of crime; what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of PSI 37/2010; and what assessment he has made of the effects of policy on the number of contacts between prisoners and the media;
	(5)  whether all prisons have implemented Prison Service Instruction 37/2010 on prisoners' access to the media;
	(6)  what action has been taken against  (a) prison staff,  (b) journalists and  (c) prisoners who have been involved in unsanctioned communications between prisoners and the media in the last 12 months;
	(7)  what provisions are in place for victims of crime to be consulted when prisoners convicted of offences that have affected them make requests to have contact with the media; and if he will review Prison Service Instruction 37/2010 on prisoners' access to the media to provide more rights and information for the victims of crimes perpetrated by prisoners seeking access to media outlets.

Crispin Blunt: Since 2 July 2010, four prisoners have requested face to face interviews with journalists. The details of these are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Prison  Offence  Outcome 
			 Birmingham Child sex offences Refused 
			 Bronzefield Murder Refused 
			 Frankland Murder Still under consideration 
			 Askham Grange Perverting course of public justice Still under consideration 
		
	
	Prisoners do not need permission from the governor to send or receive letters from the media, but correspondence which is intended for publication or for use by radio or television or for posting on the internet (or which if sent, would be likely to be published or broadcast) must not contain material which:
	is for publication in return for payment (unless the prisoner is unconvicted);
	is about the prisoner's own crime or past offences or those of others, except where it consists of serious representations about conviction or sentence or forms part of serious comment about crime, the processes of justice or the penal system;
	refers to individual prisoners or members of prison staff in such a way that they might be identified;
	is likely to appear in a publication associated with a person or organisation if there is reason to believe that the person or organisation concerned is planning or engaged in activities which present a genuine and serious threat to security or good order of the establishment or other prisons;
	contravenes any of the other restrictions on content applying to letters in general which are set out in Prison Service Order 4411 (which is available in the Libraries of both Houses).
	Outside the high security estate, outgoing mail is only routinely read in exceptional circumstances, but may be read where it is thought likely that a prisoner may attempt to send out letters that breach the rules on correspondence. A percentage of outgoing mail is read at random.
	The function of media liaison officer will be only a small part of the daily duties of the person to whom the role is assigned and it is not possible to estimate the cost incurred. There will normally be one media liaison officer for each prison.
	The unauthorised disclosure of information to any third party by staff, if proved, would constitute a breach of the NOMS staff code of conduct.
	Records indicate that in the last 12 months one member of staff was dismissed from the service for the unauthorised disclosure of prisoner related information to the press.
	Prisoners who breach the rules relating to contact with the media will be dealt with under the internal disciplinary procedures, and are likely to face additional monitoring of their correspondence in future. There are no records kept centrally about the number of prisoners who have been found to have made unauthorised contact with the press or journalists.
	Governors can restrict future access to prisoners or prisons by journalists who have engaged in authorised contact with prisoners.
	A range of internal and external stakeholders were consulted on the instruction on Prisoners' Access to the Media (PSI 37/2010), in line with NOMS instructions on the approval and implementation of instructions. No consultees specifically represented victims of crime. There has been no review of the effects of introducing the updated policy. The instruction makes clear that face to face or telephone contact with journalists will only take place in exceptional circumstances and we do not expect a large increase in the number of contacts between prisoners and the media.
	Prison Service Instruction 37/2010 Prisoners' Access to the Media was issued to all prisons on 2 July 2010 and they were required to implement it from 12 July. Governors were instructed to inform prisoners as well as all staff, particularly Media Liaison Officers, of the updated policy.
	The restrictions set out on the content and use of letters are designed to prevent distress to victims. Governors may only permit a prisoner to have contact by telephone with a journalist if they are satisfied it will not cause distress to the victim or their family. Approval for a visit by a journalist will normally only be granted following consideration of the impact on the victim. Any decision to grant an interview must be communicated to victim liaison officers (where there are victims of sexual or violent offences and where the offender received a sentence of 12 months or more and in those cases where the offender was diagnosed with a particular mental disorder) who must tell the victim or their family. There are no plans to review the policy on prisoner access to the media at present.

Prisoners: Publications

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the provision of  (a) libraries,  (b) books,  (c) newspapers,  (d) magazines and  (e) periodicals for use by prisoners in each year for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The following table provides expenditure on library services for use by prisoners over the last five financial years.
	
		
			   £  million 
			 2006-07 5.4 
			 2007-08 5.5 
			 2008-09 6.7 
			 2009-10 7.3 
			 2010-11 7.6 
		
	
	The figures for 2010-11 are based on forecasts as at January 2011.
	The National Offender Management Service's (NOMS) central accounting system holds expenditure details on the provision of library services for use by prisoners in summary format. The expenditure figures provided include contracted out library services, staffing costs, library capitation (stock) fees, subscriptions and affiliation fees. The NOMS accounting system does not separate expenditure into books, newspapers, magazines and periodicals. This information could be obtained only by examining local records manually at each establishment at disproportionate costs.

Prisoners: Sports

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on leisure and sports facilities for prisoners in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows expenditure on the provision of prisoners' recreational activities in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 3.7 
			 2007-08 4.3 
			 2008-09 5.0 
			 2009-10 5.7 
			 2010-11 4.1 
		
	
	The figures for 2010-11 are based on forecast as at January 2011.
	The National Offender Management Service's central accounting system holds expenditure details on the provision of prisoners' recreational activities in summary form, which includes the cost of religious education. It does not separate this into leisure and sports facilities. This information could be obtained by examining local records manually at each establishment only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Voluntary Work

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were engaged in voluntary work in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Statistical information on the voluntary work undertaken by prisoners is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by obtaining information held on offender files, or on local data systems, validating it, and then collating it in a common format.

Prisons: Homicide

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many murders have been committed in prisons in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what steps the Prison Service has taken to ensure the safety of those in prison from physical attack from other prisoners.

Crispin Blunt: NOMS is fully committed to a zero tolerance approach to violence in prisons.
	There have been 15 prisoner on prisoner homicides since 2000, which is fewer than two per year. In that time the prison population increased from 64,600 in 2000 to 85,500 in 2010 (September).
	
		
			  Prison homicides by year 
			   Number 
			 2000 3 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 3 
			 2006 0 
			 2007 2 
			 2008 3 
			 2009 0 
			 2010 1 
		
	
	There has been one alleged homicide in 2011.
	Every homicide is regrettable. NOMS is committed to learning the lessons from each death. In 2002 and following the murder of Zahid Mubarek at HMYOI Feltham, the Cell Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) process was introduced. All prisoners are assessed for the risk they pose to other prisoners prior to being allocated a cell. The CSRA has been reviewed. The improved process will be implemented in April 2011. Alongside the CSRA, all prisons have a violence reduction strategy in place.

Probation Officers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the probation service has recorded any incidents of threats to probation staff when those staff have not been on duty in the last 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is not collected centrally. Obtaining it would involve making enquiries of each of the 35 Probation Trusts, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders: Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Brighton, Pavilion constituency the effects of his Department's policies on  (a) the resettlement of young offenders and  (b) youth reoffending rates since May 2010.

Crispin Blunt: The geographical area covered by Brighton and Hove Youth Offending Service (YOS) is different from that covered by Brighton, Pavilion parliamentary constituency and all data collected by the YJB is by youth offending team (YOT) area.
	Data applicable to the period since May 2010 are not yet available as all such data are published annually and retrospectively.
	 The following question was  received and  intended for publication on 1 March 2011:

Legal Aid: Contracts

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many civil contracts to provide legal services were awarded by his Department in 2007; and how many such contracts were still active in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is responsible for the administration of civil contract awards.
	The Unified Contract (Civil) was introduced in April 2007. As at 31 March 2008, there were 2,734 organisations delivering services under the Unified Contract (Civil) 2007.
	There are currently 1,776 organisations delivering services under an extension of the Unified Contract until 30 November 2011 in family and family with housing categories only. In addition, from 15 November 2010, 1,100 organisations were awarded new Standard Civil Contracts in all civil non-family work.
	As there are effectively two types of contract operating for civil and family categories of law, there may be some duplication in numbers of current contracts as some organisations will be delivering services under both types of contract.